A Mialotte Story: Good in a crisis

Coincidence

Charlotte managed to help Mia up the stairs and get her settled into bed, her poor love was tired and hurting. She gently traced over Mia's wounds, as she watched her fall into a deep sleep. Charlotte fiddled with the heart necklace around Mia's neck that matched her own, thinking about how much weight it must've been carrying. She knew that her lover battled with ghosts of her past, but until today, she hadn't realised just how deep Mia's internal conflict ran.

Charlotte made her way to the kitchen to make herself a coffee, leaving her girlfriend to catch up on sleep after taking the red-eye flight. It was only 6am, but she already knew she couldn't go into work today and leave Mia alone in this state. She picked up the phone to ring Marjorie, hoping that she'd already be awake. Thankfully, she answered, so Charlotte explained to her that she had some personal things she had to deal with and wouldn't be in today. Marjorie didn't question it, she knew that Charlotte never took a day off lightly so she assumed it must've been important.

A few hours go by and Charlotte had been keeping herself busy, pottering around the house. She caught up on her laundry and made a shopping list for the week ahead, whilst making a couple trips upstairs in between, to check on her sleeping girlfriend. Char began to prepare some breakfast for herself and Mia to enjoy, knowing that Mia would need some sustenance after being awake all night. She was just preparing some eggs as her phone rang. It was Autumn, what could she want?

"Charlotte, I just thought I'd check in and see how you're doing. Marjorie said you were dealing with some... personal problems?" Autumn questioned hesitantly.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Thank you, Autumn."
"Well I assumed as much, because when I drove past your house this morning, I happened to notice a certain black mustang parked in your driveway." Shit. Autumn must think that Charlotte took the day off just to spend all day in bed with Mia. Not that she would feel guilty for doing so. After all, she knew both Autumn and Marjorie were guilty of it at some point, and most certainly weren't subtle about it either.
"Autumn, it's not what you think, okay? Mia's hurt and I've taken the day off to look after her."
"I see. Well in that case, send my regards to the redhead. I'm sure she'll recover quickly with you at her disposal."
"Thank you, Autumn. I'll explain another time, okay?"
"No need. Take care, Charlotte."

Autumn still hadn't forgiven Mia for the past 20 years of pain that she inflicted upon herself and her brother. However, since the mean redhead had been with Charlotte, Autumn began to see a glimpse of the old Mia again. The one who she had once considered a big sister. Autumn knew that Mia still cared for her, it was evident after she had sent her flowers the other week. It would take time to repair the relationship between them, but Autumn was willing to give it a go.

"Baby?" Char lightly shook Mia's shoulder to try and wake her. "I made some breakfast, are you hungry?"
Mia rolled over and reached up to give her sweetheart a kiss. She had a bit of a headache and hissed in pain,
as she slowly raised her hand to her bruised eye. She suddenly remembered she took a fist to the face earlier that morning.

"At least the swelling's gone down, do you want some painkillers, baby?" Charlotte offered, already making her way to the en-suite. She sat back on the edge of the bed, handing Mia a glass of water and two paracetamol.
"Thanks, Char" Mia said as she gave her sweetheart a gentle peck, before throwing back her painkillers.

The two lovers sat at the kitchen island enjoying their breakfast as the sun warmed the room, casting a radiant glow upon Charlotte's face. Mia couldn't help but stare a little, and wonder how she got so lucky. Char was beautiful outside and in, and she was so grateful that her sweetheart had accepted her, despite all of her flaws.

After they finished their breakfast, Charlotte took the opportunity to re-dress her love's wounds. "How are you feeling?" She asked as she did so.
"A lot better, thanks to you, sweetheart" Mia answered with a slight smile gracing her face.
"Do you feel up for a walk on the beach today? It seems like a shame to stay inside on a day like this."
"Sure, sweetheart. At least with the sun shining, no one will question me for wearing sunglasses" Mia said teasingly.

At the nursery, Carly and Autumn were just finishing the last of the handovers for the day. Autumn was covering in the room for Charlotte, which she didn't mind now and then. It was humbling. During handover with Tilly's mum this morning, Carly had been informed that that Tilly's dad would be collecting her this evening. And guess who was the last parent, yet to collect.

As Graham walked through the door, Carly's eyes instantly widened at the sight of how beaten and bruised his face was. She couldn't help but wonder if Mia had something to do with it. But she knew Mia wasn't around. Autumn noticed Carly's anxious demeanour with her eyes fixated on Graham, so she took it upon herself to do Tilly's handover. "My, my, what happened to your face?" Autumn questioned shamelessly.
"Oh, ermm, nothing really, just, ermm, just...a bar fight" Graham finally managed to get out.
Autumn knew a liar when she heard one, but she left it at that, as she started to piece everything together in her head.

"Carly, is there something you wish to tell me? Perhaps, something to do with why Charlotte needed the day off to look after Mia?" Autumn's expression remained level. She didn't have all the answers, but after hearing how Graham stumbled in his words and, seeing how Carly was frozen at the sight of him, it all seemed like far too much of a coincidence to her.