Love Bites

Epilogue

- Hey, get up!

Charlie sat by Duff's side, shaking his shoulder. It was almost noon, and he was the only one still sleeping. Everyone else has already got up despite having gone to bed - or the bus seats they now called bed - at half past six.

She stopped for a moment and looked at him. She loved watching him sleep - at more than six feet tall, he still resembled a child with a blissful, serene expression on his face. He was so cute she hardly resisted pinching him.

- Hey, - he sat up, almost hitting his head on the seat in front of him and wiped his eyes. Charlie stretched out for a hug but he went for a long moisture kiss instead. Somebody applauded. Charlotte drew back from Duff and looked around to see Steven and Duff in the front seats clapping their hands. She giggled and Duff could not help showing the middle finger.

- Go on, we won't interrupt you anymore, - Steven exclaimed and let out an adorable laugh. Despite the early hour, he already had a beer in his head, and Slash was smoking a cigarette from the pack that was almost empty. Charlie climbed out of her seat to punch him in the shoulder.

- Where are we? - she asked, looking out of the window. She saw fields and forests, as usual, and a long road ahead. The bus was parked on the petrol station parking lot, but there was nobody to be seen around.

- Last time I checked, it was Alabama, - Steven shrugged, taking a gulp, - it may be Mississippi. And may be not.

- Alright...And where is Stacy?

Charlie spent most of her time with Duff, but she also get on well with Slash's new girlfriend. She was very fun and, besides, she was the only other girl in the company.

- She went to buy some coffee and sandwiches. With Izzy, - Slash added in such tone that Charlie understood he was jealous.

- And...Axl? - she felt a twinge of nervousness.

- He said he needed the phone. I don't know.

- Bloody hell..

Charlie looked at Duff, and he at her.

- Do you know what am I thinking?

- Hey, what's going on? - Steven have her a surprised look, - some dirty secret?

- Come on, quicker! We should probably try to get a taxi!

***

- So, where is she?

Nobody knew if they were in time or not. Axl arrived earlier, and the rest were forming a crowd in the hall. Duff was holding some flowers, and Charlie had a box of donuts in her hands that Steven insisted on buying. None of them had any idea of what to do next.

- Well, what about I go and ask at the reception? - Duff suggested first. Everybody nodded enthusiastically, and Izzy even agreed to hold his flowers.

- Heck, I'm nervous, - Charlie whispered, biting her lip. She wasn't joking - her hands were shaking so hard she almost dropped the donuts twice.

- Goodness, I know! - Steven shuddered, - it's like I'm giving birth myself!

- Sorry? - Charlotte chuckled, turning to him.

- Oh, let me take them! I won't be able to watch you drop these divine gifts.

Charlie was glad to get rid of the box because she already felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. She was glad when Duff came up to her to give her a hug.

- Love, you are shaky? Is everything OK?

- Shaky? I have my stomach in knots! - she confessed, burying her head in his chest, - you know, she's my best friend, and now...she is...

She looked at him through the prickly tears in her eyes. Duff seemed very serious. He took a deep breath and wiper her face with his hand.

- Oh well, I...understand. Come one, you should take a seat. They said the nurse will tell us when...When we will be allowed to see her.

These were the longest hours of Charlie's life. They sat in the corridor watching the doctors run back and forth with their pens, soon-to-be-moms being pushed in the wheelchairs and nurses carrying children to their parents. They thought every single new baby to be Elle's but were wrong every time.

The five of them had enough time to tell all the stories from their early and school years, play hangman and eat all the donuts they had with them.

- Anyone want me to get some coffee? I may fall asleep right here, - said Izzy, getting up. Charlie looked up and stopped him with an open palm.

- Wait...Look! Is that her room? Come on, I wanna go! Let's see!

The door was open and there was nobody from the staff around, so Charlie just walked in, hoping her heart won't stop.

Her guesses were right. Elle was in the room sitting on the bed with a tiny baby in her arms, and Axl was standing next to her with his arms crossed on his chest. They were both looking at the child with amazement.

- Hello! - shouted Charlie, and everyone else followed her lead. Elle looked up and a smile appeared on her face.

- Hey...Meet Marlon.

- Oh!

Charlie looked at Izzy who pinched Steven who elbowed Slash who exchanged glances with Duff. He sighed and took a wallet out of his pocket.

- That's great, I mean, - Charlie corrected herself and stepped further, - congratulations! He is so wonderful...

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the baby closer. To her, he looked just like the other babies with one exception: the hair on his head was absolutely ginger.

- What for a Marlon...- Slash whispered, scratching his head. Axl gave him a sharp annoyed look.

Steven stood in the middle of the room beaming widely, his fingers still covered in cholocate glaze.

- Marlon Rose...That does make a statement.

- Well, we bought thought...- Elle started, - I love A Streetcar Named Desire, and Axl loves The Godfather, so why not...It's a good name, very unique. Of course, had he been a girl...

- Nah, he is good, - Duff assured, and little Marlon sneezed in his sleep, making Elle smile, - by the way, it's for you, - he gave her flowers and kissed her cheek.

- Oh God, thank you! Thanks!  - she put the flowers on the bedside table and looked around, - of course, you, Charlotte, could have arrived earlier...But I'm so lucky to have friends like you!

- I told you from the very beginning, we're great, - Steven stated, making everybody laugh. Then there was a lot of kissing, smiling and giggling as they helped put the flowers in a vase and after that Elle let Axl hold Marlon. Meanwhile, Duff took Charlie's hand and pulled her out of the room.

They were standing in the corridor that was almost empty. Duff coughed, then fixed his long bangs and looked Charlie in the eye.

- While we're talking lucky...I wanted to say that I am so lucky to have you. Not only a girlfriend, but a good mate. And...

- And what?

Charlie felt the corners of her mouth automatically lift. She was twisting a lock of hair between her fingers.

Duff hesitated for a moment.

- You remember we drove through Preston on our way? There is a chapel in town, if you know what I mean...Oh, I know, you have always wanted to go to Vegas.

Author's note: so this is it. It's over. I really hope you guys enjoyed the book despite the mistakes, the plot holes and the rare updates. Thank you for reading, voting, leaving comments and being there. I am so lucky. I'm lucky, you're lucky, we're all lucky!

Stay tuned!

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