GEN III: Chapter 1

Hayden was up early this morning, up showered and fed. The boys were getting ready for work, since he wanted to stay out of their way he settled down to play some video games. He played for about twenty minutes before the television broke. As he fixed it he silently cursed to himself "Stupid piece of crap, I've probably fixed this thing thirty damn times in my lifetime. I'm not doing it again after this, we are buying a new TV!" After it was repaired, Hayden was too irritated to enjoy a video game anymore.

There was always laundry to be done. That might take his mind away from the TV. Hayden collected the laundry around the house and put the clothes to wash. Just as he was walking away the washer started to bounce around and make a very loud 'thump, thumpity, thump thump thump'. Hayden rolled his eyes and tried to subdue the out of control machine. He thought he had it good and held down until one big thump threw him to the ground. With a growl and a big sigh Hayden stood, defeated, then went to get in the hot tub. He found his wife already there, and smiled when he saw her. She made him feel better instantly.

Isabel hadn't done anything but eat. She did put away her dishes, but that was about it. She slept in, and she showered, but stayed in her pajamas. Directly after breakfast she went to the hot tub to relax. She was just getting good and warm when Hayden came out to join her. He always brought a smile to her face, she winked at him as he climbed in next to her.

Directly after work, Charlie called Daphne. He hadn't seen her for over twenty-four hours, and to his surprise, he missed her immensely. She agreed to meet him and as soon as she arrived he hugged her tight.

"Daphne, would you like to go to dinner and a movie with me tonight? Right now?" Charlie asked hopefully.

She responded with a "Yes definitely!" and a kiss on the cheek. Since they were only two blocks away, they walked hand in hand to the Bistro.

The dinner was okay, and the service stunk, but the company was wonderful. Daphne's dinner was not what she ordered, she was about to accept it anyway but Charlie refused the plate and sent it back. Then he waited for her correct meal to come out before he started eating.

Daphne actually seemed unusually quiet during thier meal for some reason. Charlie didn't think too much of it, but it did catch his attention sometimes when she didn't reply to what he said as he would have expected her to.




After dinner and dessert, Charlie asked Daphne if she enjoyed it. She gave him a small smile and said "It was good." But there was something in her eyes that told Charlie something was different. When he kissed her he knew for sure something was bothering her, she didn't respond to his lips the way she had before.

Charlie backed up a step, "Daphne, is there something wrong? You were pretty quiet at dinner and you seem kind of distant."

Daphne looked at him and said, "Well Charlie, I didn't want to tell you this because it really wasn't any of my business. But... I like to think we are getting pretty serious together now." She paused to take in his reaction, his eyes showed that he was curious, yet he still smiled slightly at her opinion of their relationship. She continued, "It's about Sybil.."

Charlie's smile kind of faltered at the mention of her name. Then he looked confused. "What about her? Is she okay? What happened?"

"Oh, she's fine... I think. Anyway, it's about what she did with you." Daphne said. "I know you still think about her occasionally." She looked down at her feet and smiled, "I hope not as often as you did before, now that I'm around. Well like I said, I didn't think it was my business before, but now you are becoming a part of my life and now it has kind of become my business." Daphne looked back up at Charlie, then she blurted everything out all at once.

"When Sybil, Brooke and I moved here, Sybil wasn't planning on staying. Actually she didn't really move here with us, she just came to help me and Brooke settle down. Sybil met you just a few days after we came, and she actually really liked you. A lot. You should have heard her talk about you that night when she came home from your house. Anyway, when you called the next day she was in the middle of planning her wedding to Brock. She was engaged when you met her, and she flirted with you. I know she led you on, and I know you were interested in pursuing her, and that's okay.
... Now that we are kind of seeing more of each other, I just wanted to clear that up. So you know she isn't coming back." Daphne looked at her feet again, and her cheeks reddened.

"I hope I didn't make the wrong assumption that you like me Charlie. I hope you don't think about her when your with me." Daphne admitted.

It took Charlie a minute to absorb the information, and it didn't bother him. He didn't care about Sybil anymore, and he hadn't noticed that until just now. He smiled at Daphne and put his hands on her hips, then pulled her to him, forcing her to look in his eyes. Her eyes were glistening, like she could cry at any second.

"Daphne, I don't think about anything but you when I'm with you. If I ever made you feel otherwise I'm so sorry. At first I was curious about your sister, then I got to know you more. It was wrong what she did, but I don't care about her anymore. Just you." Charlie kissed her then, and was happy to find that she responded in kind to him.

Daphne looked at Charlie, "Well, what about that movie you promised me? You don't have to worry about the popcorn, I couldn't eat another bite."

They went to the movie and held hands the whole time. Mostly Daphne was paying attention, but her mind did wander. She thought about Charlie, and if he was telling the truth about his thoughts toward Sybil. Daphne had been burned before, with a guy that said nearly the exact same things. Would Charlie do the same to her? She wondered if there were anyway to find out for sure. Then she remembered how the last relationship ended, what she had done to end it. If Charlie really cared about her he wouldn't leave her if she did it again. Was she willing to put herself through it again though? She really liked Charlie, more than she liked Aaron. Daphne would be devastated if Charlie left her. She often fantasized about a life with him, and hoped one day those fantasies would be reality.

Charlie mostly watched the movie, but he couldn't keep his mind off of Daphne. Every move she made, he was aware of it. From the smallest twitch of her finger, to the adjusting of her bottom on the uncomfortable seats. He couldn't miss anything she did. Even though their hands were starting to get a little sweaty from prolonged skin to skin contact, he didn't let her go. He couldn't never let her go now, he was in too deep with her.

After the movie, Charlie escorted her home. Daphne gazed at Charlie, and thanked him for a wonderful night. She accepted his hug and shivered as he kissed her. In that moment she decided to go through with her plan, and test Charlies feelings for her. Not that she was going to just for a test, she really wanted to. She hadn't wanted to so much in quite a while.

Just as he turned to leave, Daphne said "Actually Charlie, why don't you come inside for a few minutes. I really don't want to be alone now." She smiled at him.

Charlie hesitated for just a brief moment and then agreed to come in for a while. He didn't want to ruin what he and Daphne had by doing anything stupid, or too forward. He was just a man after all, men mess things up with women all the time, and never mean to.

They both went inside and Daphne invited Charlie to lay on the bed with her. He did, but only because it was one of the only seats available.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you earlier," Daphne began "Brooke, my cousin, she actually found another small house to live in. So she moved out. Since Sybil went back to France, it's just me here now." Daphne delighted in telling him this, for it meant her next step would be a little easier.

Charlie was glad that Daphne wouldn't have to share this tiny house with two other women, but wasn't exactly sure how to respond to the news. "Good for Brooke, I'm glad you guys don't have to be cramped up in here. I am sure two grown girls living together is tough."

Daphne didn't miss his avoidance of mentioning Sybil, but why would he need to anyway? She didn't live here anymore, and that is what he was concerned with.

Suddenly Daphne pushed her legs under Charlie's and pulled him over top of her.

"What I meant to say, sweet Charlie, is... We're alone." Daphne suggested. She then lifted her head up to kiss him. Daphne felt Charlie tremble slightly and wondered if this was the first time he had been put in this position. She would never ask though.

Charlie never had been here before, this was new territory for him, and he was a little nervous. Not because he wouldn't know what to do, he's read books, but about what would happen after. This was one of the things that men always messed up. The only difference was, she was inviting this, not him pushing on her. Charlie stopped kissing her and looked at her trying to read her face. She seemed completely willing, and still inviting. He put his hand behind her head to brace her, and kissed her some more.

After sharing pleasures, Charlie and Daphne held hands and stared at each other. Just smiling. Charlie was silently admitting that he could see himself with her the rest of his life. He couldn't see anything but her in the future, and maybe... just maybe a child.

Daphne's admittance was a little different. She loved him, she gave in and admitted to herself that she was in love with Charlie. She was trying not to fall for him so quickly, but it happened anyway. Now she worried more, what had she done? Why did she invite him to her bed so fast? She should have waited, this was a stupid way to find out if he loved her back. If Charlie was there in the morning, that would basically prove it. Aaron had left the very night she gave herself to him, never to be seen again. Charlie though, if Charlie left Daphne wouldn't step out of her house until she was ready to move... again. If he was there in the morning, she would know he would stay with her. If he wasn't there, her heart would break.

At about 7am Charlie was awakened by his cell phone. He thought he had the day off, but he was wrong. His boss was calling to ask if he would be in today.

"I really hope so Mr. Fuller because I have a very important story here, and I want you to be the one to write it! It would mean a promotion on your part."

Charlie agreed to come into work, he didn't want to jeoprodize his job and he was trying hard for a raise. He walked back to the side of the bed after hanging up his phone and looked at Daphne. She looked so innocent and angelic lying there, he decided not to wake her. Charlie got dressed and left for work, before leaving though he had written a quick note to Daphne explaining his absence."

When Daphne woke up, she found herself alone. She rolled out of the covers and sat there on the edge of the bed for what felt like eternity. He was gone. Charlie left her. He was just like Aaron. Daphne felt so stupid for letting him in she could have smacked herself. She was going to crawl back into bed and just stay there, but she had to use the bathroom first. She did, and on the way back she glanced at the bed. Memories of her and Charlie's love making flooded back to her, and she felt her love for him again. Then she noticed that he had made up his side of the bed. "Well gee, thanks Charlie!" She said aloud to no one, very sarcasticly. Then she saw something else... a piece of paper on the nightstand. She picked it up and read -

'Daphne,

I'm sorry I am not there to kiss you goodmorning. You looked so peacful in your sleep I didn't have the heart to wake you up.
My boss called and asked if I was coming in today. I had planned to spend the day with you, but I guess I got my schedule mixed up, I don't have the day off. I won't be working all day though, just until 12.
I hope you are not too angry with me. I'll be in the park after work, I hope to see you there.

Until then,
Charlie'

Daphne smiled at herself and hugged the note. Then sat back on the edge of the bed. She was happy. He hadn't left her, she hadn't been dropped again. She felt warm tears fall down her cheeks. Again though, she felt stupid. This time for not believing in Charlie, for not having faith in him. He did love her, he did. He didn't have to say it to her, she knew, and she loved him. Though she wouldn't say it just yet.

Daphne looked at the clock. Eleven. Wow did she sleep late! Charlie was only working half a day. He would be off in an hour, and she had to get ready. She took a shower and had half a bowl of cereal, she was too giddy to eat anymore than that. She got dressed in a flash and was out the door. She couldn't wait to see him.