Parting Visit with have_no_mercy.

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie is aware of Tess' wealth, but even so, he wasn't quite picturing her living in an actual mansion. He's a bit taken aback, therefore, when his taxi pulls up to the specified address

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[have_no_mercy]

Tess had been, of course, alerted the minute the taxi arrived. Still, the knock on the doors startles her somewhat, if only because everyone else simply walks in.

"Come in."

She'd get it herself, but she's a little too comfortably curled up on the couch by the fire.

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie enters, once again rather taken aback by what he sees. The flat in Manchester in which he's been living since his return isn't much bigger than this room alone. At least, that's how it seems to him at the moment.

Then his gaze falls on Tess, and he relaxes slightly, giving her an amused smile. "You didn't tell me you lived in a bloody castle, mate."

[have_no_mercy]

"Imported all the way from Scotland." Tess sets her book aside and gestures for him to join her. "It's not really my style, but it's grown on me."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie raises his eyebrows as he walks over and sits down beside her. "How d'you import an entire castle across the Atlantic?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess shrugs. "Stone by stone, apparently. I wasn't here when it happened." She pauses to give him a small smile. "Would you like something to drink?"

[ds_rockgod]

"I'm good, thanks," he replies, giving her a smile in return. He leans back against the couch as he does so, now feeling considerably more relaxed than when he entered. After a moment's pause, he adds, "It's good to see you again, mate."

[have_no_mercy]

"You, too." And she actually means it.

"Did you find what you were looking for in L.A.?"

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie shakes his head and lets out a soft sigh. "No. Not yet. Which has a bright side, too, 'cause if I'd found what I was looking for, I wouldn't be here, would I? I'd be on that demented island trying to work out how to get everyone back home in one piece," he points out with a small smile. "But I'm going back to L.A. to keep looking after my visit here."

[have_no_mercy]

"That's one good thing, then," she agrees. "And I hope you do find what you want. If I can be of any help, you'll let me know, yes?"

[ds_rockgod]

"I will, yeah. Cheers," he answers with a nod. "I think I do have some help now, though, which is nice. But enough about me and my problems. How've you been? Busy as ever, I s'pose?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess nods. "Yes, busy as ever." Then she frowns. "Or not quite as busy, which is something I'm adjusting to."

[ds_rockgod]

"Not quite as busy?" he asks, tilting his head to one side curiously. "Why's that?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Well," Tess starts, gaze shifting down to her lap, "I'm having a baby, actually. I need to reduce my stress load, delegate and all that."

[ds_rockgod]

That information surprises Charlie a bit, even though it does make sense. He recalls her saying something about her doctor telling her she needed to de-stress. "Oh. Well, congratulations. How far along are you? Not that I really know a bloody thing about it."

[have_no_mercy]

"Thank you." Her response is polite and, he might note, not excited in the least. "Twelve weeks. Still a long ways to go, obviously."

[ds_rockgod]

"You don't seem overly enthused," he observes quietly. "But, erm, sorry; that's really none of my business."