I Knew I Loved You

Chapter One: Happy Anniversary

Rolling over in bed and reaching out to cuddle with her husband, Charlene Neuer frowned when her arm didn't meet the warm body that should be sleeping next to her. 

Opening her eyes, she looked confused as she looked at Manuel's side of their bed that was completely devoid of any sign of her husband. 

Sitting up, Charlene looked around wondering where he could have gone since he didn't have training that morning nor did he have anywhere to be at all. 

Brushing her fingers through her tangled mess of hair, Charlene rolled out of bed and shivered when her feet touched the cold wooden floor; she made a mental note to get a rug for that side of the bed. 

There had been one there before but it had been ruined when Manuel had dropped something on it while she had been out of town for work. 

Charlene muttered to herself a little annoyed that Manuel wasn't here so that they could spend the morning in bed together; she had hoped for a better way to spend their tenth anniversary. 

It was hard to believe that they had been together for so long, Charlene could still remember the night that her best friend had set her up on a blind-date with Manuel. 

He had been just started for Schake 04's first team and Charlene was a student studying journalism; it had been a horrible first date with Manuel spilling wine all of her red dress. 

It had been so awkward and Charlene had no idea how they had managed to go on a second date other than the fact that Manuel had been so insist about wanting to make things right considering how their first had ended. 

Heading downstairs, Charlene smiled admiring the home that she and Manuel had built together; it had not been easy but Charlene adored the house that had become their home. 

It didn't take Charlene to reach the bottom of the stairs, she paused listening to the sounds of Manuel in the kitchen and a small smile formed on her face as she realised what he was doing. 

Stepping off the stairs, Charlene headed for the kitchen with a grin on her face as she tried to move as quietly as possible; she quietly pushed open the door and leant against the door frame while she watched him trying to make breakfast.

Charlene couldn't help but smile watching him swear as he burnt their breakfast, it wasn't the first time that he had tried to make her pancakes and each time he always overcooked them. 

It reminded her of the first night that they had spent together as a couple, his cramped apartment offering very little noise protection when he had set off the fire alarm. 

"Do you need some help?" Charlene asked moving further into the kitchen, she couldn't help but laugh as Manuel jumped at the sound of her voice. 

He groaned realising that he had been caught attempting to make her breakfast in bed, Manuel had wanted to surprise her and he wished he'd taken Thomas Müller offer on learning how to cook pancakes. 

It was the one thing that he struggled with and Manuel didn't know why this kept happening every time he attempted to make them; he looked at Charlene a little embarrassed at the situation that he had found himself in. 

Charlene walked over to Manuel and kissed him, she wrapped her arms around his neck knowing that it was sweet of him to try and make her breakfast. 

Even if it had turned into more of a mess than a meal, she found it sweet that he would even attempt to make her favourite especially when it was clearly not his strongest suit. 

"Happy anniversary," Charlene whispered to him, she looked up at him and kissed him again; she pulled back and made to step around him only to be stopped Manuel.