Moment in the Sun

11. Home

Nick POV

Charlie is fast asleep in my bed, curled on his side with one hand - his left hand, newly adorned with a sparkly ring - stretched towards where I was laying a few minutes ago. I'd woken needing a glass of water and left the room for only a moment, coming back to find Charlie looking like an angel. I quietly put down the glass and pick up my phone to take a photo. I want to remember him looking like this forever. The click of the camera wakes him and he blinks, disoriented for a moment but a smile plays on his lips when he sees me.

"Hey there, paparazzi." He mumbles, eyes half open. Dropping my phone again, I climb back into bed beside him.

"You looked so cute." I told him, pulling him into my side. He curls into me, resting his head on my chest.

"Mm. I doubt that, but okay."

"What were you dreaming about?"

"Marrying you." His answer is immediate and I smile, hugging him tight. 

"Sounds like a good dream."

"It was," He looks up at me, "We have to tell the Paris squad tomorrow."

"Yeah. I can't wait. It will be so amazing."

"I have an idea..." There's a mischievous glint in his eye that I can see despite the darkness of the room.

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Let's not say anything specifically. Just wait until they notice. See how long it takes."

"Well, since you can't keep your hands off me at the moment, I'd say it won't take very long at all." I teased him, earning myself a pout and then a soft kiss.

"I can't keep my hands off you all the time anyway, not like it's anything unusual." He laughed. "It's not like they'd react badly, they're all supportive of us."

"No-one has reacted badly." I reminded him, thinking back to when we told our parents when we got home from our trip a few days ago.

~~Flashback~~

I  parked the car out the front of Charlie's parent's house and looked over at him. He was sat curled up on the passenger seat, looking down at his hand, playing with the engagement ring.

"We don't have to say anything now, if you don't want to." I said gently, bringing him out of whatever thoughts he was having. "You could just not wear it around them, it's not like you're here all that much anyway."

"No, I want to tell them. I'm just nervous."

"I'm right here with you, Char. There's nothing to be afraid of." I took his hand in mine, kissing his knuckles softly. "You're already out to them and they're okay with that. They won't react badly to this."

"I know." He took a deep breath and looked at the house again. "Okay, let's go."

We climbed out of the car and I followed him up to the front door, his hand clasped tightly in mine. He didn't bother knocking, just pushing the door open and moving into the front hallway.

"We're home!" He called out, kicking off his shoes.

"In the kitchen, Charlie." His mum replied and he paused. I gave his hand a squeeze which seemed to be just enough encouragement for him to make his way to the kitchen where we found his parents and sister sitting around the  counter, looking at some old cookbooks. "Hello, you two. Don't you look lovely and rested?"

"Hi mum, dad. Tori." Tori came over to hug both of us before pulling back and looking between us.

"What's up with you two?"