Charles/Laura fic, chapter 9 'Through Time & Seasons'
Through Time & Seasons by missbevcrusher
Rated [M]
In case you need them, links to the previous chapters can be found here.
Before I go any further, I need to thank a few people.
First, I would like to express my gratitude to bytesofspencer for the amazing beta. As always, girl, you did a wonderful job with this. I appreciate the time you spend helping me, being my soundboard and all. Thank you, thank you.
I would also like to thank another dear friend, (you know who you are) for being my IM cheerleader and for suggesting ending the chapter where I did. You were totally right, it works better this way and sets the stage for what's to come. *hugs*
Finally, to those of you who sent nudges and words of encouragement, a million thanks. You guys are really motivating and I'm touched that so many have stuck with this fic for so long. I'm speechless really...
Now to my apologies... This chapter took a long time to write for many reasons. Real life kicked my butt in a lot of ways in past weeks but luckily things have finally calmed down. Also, Mr. Writer's Block knocked on my door and stuck around for a while. Good news is I eventually kicked him out and now have my muse firmly chained to my ankle. ;-)
Standard Disclaimer: Charles Lattimer, Laura Brown, and the wonderful story that is 'For All Time' are property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended. I am simply writing what I would have loved to see at the end of the movie and then some.
Without any further ado...
Chapter 9 ~ Gentle Slopes
Water slowly winding down the river, a breeze rustling the leaves of the sheltered grove-such was the essence of the river hollows.
While this sanctuary had greeted two heartbroken individuals that day, it saw them leave with anything but heartache.
Sidelong glances, shy smiles, and the occasional brushing of hand against hand-a far cry from earlier that morning.
Being there, as they were, it was amazing, surreal almost.
To have been so close to leaving and then…
She kissing him, he kissing her, the ardour between them-it had been dreamlike.
It still was.
Charles and Laura had begun a new chapter in their relationship, one they had yet to discuss at length but knew to be profound.
Had it not been for the obligations of real life, they would have undoubtedly stayed by the river and enjoyed their newfound closeness-the idea more than a little tempting.
To break away from one another, to temper the flood of desire they both felt, had not been easy.
They had done so reluctantly, gradually, looking at one another in silent understanding.
While they had lost control once before, had teetered awfully close to pushing things farther than they had anticipated, this time they had not.
Each wanted to start on the right foot, to give this relationship the chance it deserved.
Charles had offered to escort her home, or rather escort her near her home.
Both wanted to break the news gently to Mrs. Clark, knew that it might take a while for her to warm up to the idea.
And then there was Mary.
While Laura knew her daughter would not object, as a mother she wanted to be the one to broach the subject instead of having the seven year old figure it out by herself.
And so they walked at a leisurely pace along the countryside, their gait unhurried as they crossed a grassy patch lining the river.
The area was peaceful, deserted, the air broken only by the lulling sound of trickling water and songbirds.
Knowing this sense of seclusion would not last, Laura let her hand drift closer to his. It brushed feather light against his knuckles, making her feel things she hadn’t in a very long time. Then, in a bold but tender move, she reached for his palm and intertwined her fingers with his.
The contact, though simple, made her pulse race; it awoke the butterflies in her and made her feel…wonderful.
Their hands fit perfectly together, their thumbs moving in tiny circles.
Looking ahead, she felt rather than saw Charles’ gaze on her profile. It made her entire body tingle and brought a smile to her lips.
Laura took another step but this time felt a gentle tug on her hand. She spun around to find that he had stopped, his eyes rooted to hers in wonder, the gentle smile that was so Charles painting his features.
He pulled her towards him, gently.
And Laura allowed him to.
The kiss was a gentle pressing of lips against lips. It was soft, delightful, making Laura sigh as she draped her arms over his shoulders, linking her hands behind his neck.
She felt Charles’ smile against her mouth, an expression she mirrored. Then, she felt his touch, palms slowly winding their way from the small of her back to her sides.
“Sorry,” he whispered against her mouth. “I just couldn’t resist.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Their lips smacked gently as Laura stole another kiss. “I was hoping you’d do that.”
They indulged in this languid exploration for a few moments more, leaning their foreheads together when their mouths finally parted.
“Don’t you wish real life could wait sometimes?” Laura asked, her eyes closed amid a luminous expression.
Charles chuckled. “Yeah.” He touched her face then, the back of his fingers grazing her cheek.
“There’s so much we need to talk about.”
“I know.” Pulling back, he continued. “But we have time.”
Laura blinked slowly, her mouth curving into a knowing smile. “Time…”
The term would never be the same again. And while she would never share what she knew with anyone, Laura now saw the universe in an entirely different light.
She saw this new chance at love as a profound gift-one bestowed upon them by a force beyond their understanding. And it made her wonder.
How did I get so lucky?
These thoughts were such a wild disparity from her earlier musings where she had cursed fate and its cruelty.
“Not as straightforward as it used to be, is it?” said Charles, breaking through her reverie.
“No.” A small laugh escaped as she shook her head, eyes suffused with a growing tenderness. After a second or so Laura spoke once more, her voice barely above a whisper. “But while I’ll never understand the intricacies of time, I’ll forever be grateful for this, for you.”
As if to emphasize her words, she brought her hand to his cheek, cupping it as she hovered near him, oh so close and closer still. Her lips slightly parted, Laura nuzzled him, could not help it. Her heart racing, a series of tremors started coursing throughout her body, manifesting themselves in quivering breaths.
Very much aware of the building desire within her, Laura fought the impulse to kiss him fully, hungrily, and instead opted for caution.
She kissed him briefly, finally pulling away, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Charles’ eyes perused her features, his feelings palpable and unguarded.
“We should go.” Laura looked down, a smitten smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.
And they did, walked and walked toward her home, talking, laughing, but keeping a respectable distance.
While they knew they had to, neither wanted to part ways. As close to the homestead as they dared, the two slowed their pace, stopped and turned to look at one another.
“I guess I should go see if I still have a place to stay tonight.” Charles smiled that easy smile of his as he transferred his suitcase from one hand to the other.
“I’m sure the Davis’ will be happy to have you back.”
He chuckled lightly. “I hope so.”
Their gazes entwined, Charles and Laura stood there, stretching out the moment as much as they could.
The night would be interminable; the first of many, they knew. But this was how things were, courtship consisting of a series of steps they would explore together-hopefully to a fulfilling completion.
A content expression on his face, Charles reached forward and touched her cheek lightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Covering his hand with hers, Laura closed her eyes and sighed before answering, “You bet.”
While she stayed put, he took a step back, then another… and another before he nodded once, winked at her then turned and started walking toward town.
Laura watched him leave, smiling in delight whenever he would steal one more glance over his shoulder. Still awed by everything, she felt like pinching herself. Then, her heart swimming in daydream, she spun around and started for the homestead.
~~~
The morning had been awfully long for Mrs. Clark, the haste in which Laura had left somewhat worrying. She had repeatedly peered out the window hoping to see her daughter walk up the road to the house. Alas she had yet to return.
Perhaps something had come up at the Gazette. Mrs. Clark had no way of knowing really, would have to wait while her mind speculated.
Lunch had been a quiet affair, had come and gone with Laura’s chair remaining vacant.
Once she and Mary had eaten, the older woman had gathered the leftovers, had scooped them into a pot and promptly placed on the stove.
Laura had not eaten anything all day and would most likely be famished when she came home.
The task of drying the dishes distracting to a degree, Mrs. Clark almost jumped when she heard the door open. Seeing it was Laura, she tried to hide her worried state behind an emotional shield-a stern voice. “I was starting to wonder when you’d show up.”
“I’m sorry. It took longer than I thought,” Laura said as she hastily crossed the room to retrieve an apron.
An observant mother, Mrs. Clark could not help but notice the change in her daughter. Gone was the troubled look she had worn earlier that morning-in its place a lighter expression. Laura seemed to be in high spirits, an air of gaiety about her. Oh it was subtle, but the older woman knew Laura unlike anyone else, recognized the change immediately.
“You seem to be in a good mood this afternoon.”
Laura shrugged, her eyes retaining their sparkle. “Beautiful day is all.”
Mrs. Clark scrutinized her for a few moments, elderly eyes peering over the rim of her glasses. She did not buy it, said so with a grunt. But as expected, Laura did not deny or confirm the unspoken assumption, merely continued putting away the dishes.
Such was the way things were between them. While it grated against Mrs. Clark’s prying nature, Laura sometimes kept to herself. It had always been that way and would always be.
“Your lunch is on the stove,” she stated simply, resigned to the fact that Laura would not divulge anything for the time being. Then, with a shake of her head, Mrs. Clark resumed her task, a silent question lingering in the back of her mind.
What’s got you smiling, Laura?
~~~
The chirping of crickets broke through the stillness of night, echoing across moonlight fields and open windows.
Somerville was quiet, most everyone asleep. But from their respective bedrooms, two people remained awake, looking up at the moonlit sky, thinking.
…
Charles stood, left hand braced on the side of the windowsill, his face tilted to the heavens above. It had been a rollercoaster of a day; hopeless at first then…
He still could not believe the turn of events, how fate had reversed his fortune-having been so close to leaving, then finding a reason to stay, the only reason to.
The people who had known about his leaving would be surprised, he knew-much like the Davis’ had been when he had shown up at their doorstep.
Of course, they had welcomed him with open arms, respectful not to pry too much.
But shortly before dinner, when he and Mrs. Davis had been alone in the kitchen, she had looked at him, had asked tentatively, “So why did you stay?”
Charles had stopped to ponder for a moment or two, finally…
“I couldn’t leave.” After a pause, he had continued, “Just… too much to leave behind.” Charles had done his best to answer honestly without giving too much away.
Mrs. Davis being an intuitive woman, there had been no fooling her.
“Or a certain someone.” The twinkle in her eyes had said that she approved.
In response, Charles had averted his eyes, had laughed softly, shaking his head.
He did not mind that she had guessed right for Mrs. Davis was a woman who knew discretion.
But while he and Laura had agreed to keep quiet until she told her family, Charles could not wait for the moment when he could tell the world, so proud was he to be courting such an amazing woman.
Back to the here and now, Charles took a slow breath.
A tender smile splaying across his lips, he blinked once, slowly, the most beautiful image fluttering behind his closed eyelids-the memory accompanied by echoes of a conversation that had turned his world on its axis.
“I thought you left.”
“Train didn’t show.”
In his mind’s eye, he saw Laura, her eyes brimmed with tears, the most joyous smile painting her beautiful face. “I’m glad.”
Such a simple revelation, yet one he had been unable or unwilling to wrap his mind around for fear of reading too much into it.
Luckily, Laura had made her meaning clear with purposeful actions; she had walked towards him, her gaze skimming his features as a single tear trickled to her cheek. Then, she had wound her arms around him, fingers gliding in his hair as she had buried her face in the crook of his neck.
It had taken a second or so for his mind to catch up to his heart, for him to return the embrace and enfold her in his arms.
But once he had, it had been amazing.
Laura had felt wonderful against him, her frame perfectly moulded to his-warm, giving and receiving.
Charles would never tire of holding her. Even now, mere hours after that most tender of moments, he longed to do so again.
He already missed her, could not help but imagine her as she must be-out there, in her own home, most likely tucked away in her bedroom. Whether she were awake or asleep, he did not know. But right now, gazing at the heavens, Charles felt a connection to her, as though she were here with him.
He only needed to close his eyes to see her beside him-profile illuminated by the bluish glow of night.
She would be smiling too; Laura, beautiful Laura.
Charles could not wait to see her.
Soon…
The next day in fact-so close yet so distant.
Pushing himself off the windowsill, Charles slid his suspenders down his arms and started undoing his shirt buttons.
Getting ready to hit the hay, he thought of Laura once more, his heart beating a gentle tempo.
Good night…
…
Laura had been unable to sleep. She had pulled her vanity chair by the window where she now sat, wrapped in a throw, legs curled beneath her. She stared out into the night, not really seeing the peaceful landscape of slumbering farmlands. Instead her mind was swimming in reverie, drifting in gentle happiness.
She recalled the stirrings of joyful butterflies when she had seen Charles by the river that day. She remembered her joy, so full and heartfelt.
He had stayed, he would stay, and they would explore this new plateau in their relationship.
A fond smile finding light, Laura remembered his confession before they had left the river.
“Just so you know; I have no idea how this works.” Charles’ words had been laced with slight embarrassment, his fingers nervously scratching the back of his ear.
“How what works?”
“Courtship.”
“I see.” She had been slightly puzzled, had teased, “So there’s no courting in the 21st century?”
“There is,” Charles had laughed then. “But it’s… different.”
His face softening with sincerity, he had continued, “I just want to do this right.”
Laura had reached for his hand, looked at him with assurance. “You’ll do fine.”
“You seem pretty confident.”
“I am.” She had meant it. “Just follow my lead.”
Laura knew Charles would do wonderfully, with or without her guidance. But she understood his uncertainty, would do her best to steer him in the right direction should he ever pause in doubt.
Tightening the throw around herself, Laura tilted her head to the side.
How she missed him already.
It was silly in a way, a grown woman feeling like a lovesick schoolgirl. But she could not help it.
Thoughts shifting to the following day, Laura wondered how it would all play out.
She was eager to see Charles but knew they would have to be careful around her mother.
A picnic after church would be the perfect way of easing him into their lives, at least that’s what she hoped.
Just a few more hours.
Morning could not come fast enough.
Recalling the tenderness in his gaze and the wonderful feel of his mouth covering hers, Laura closed her eyes and breathed an extended sigh.
Knowing intimacy again, even on a rather innocent level, it had been…
A small shiver ran through her body as she recalled the sensations he had evoked in her. Then, slowly, she got up, deposited the throw on the chair, and climbed into bed.
As she settled against her pillow, Laura closed her eyes, her mind awhirl with silent words directed at the man who had captured her heart.
Sweet dreams, Charles.
continue to chapter 10