The Other Side (A Sebastian Stan Fanfiction Story)

Chapter 38

A/N: Ah finally, I was able to write a joint POV chapter! This will be the case now moving forward, and I hope it doesn't break the flow of the plot. I really appreciate those who have been sticking with this story, whether you are letting yourself known (by voting and/or commenting) or not (just reading, still cool!). As usual if there's anything that needs to be pointed out, let me know!

On with the story!

***

Another couple of days had passed that Charlie and Sebastian had not heard either from the courts or from Rachel and Jasper and this had Charlie worried despite the reassurances from their legal team that they have the upper hand because of Rachel's little stunt during their initial proceedings.

Sebastian had tried his best to calm Charlie's growing nerves by asking her to take him to her favorite spots in the city, hoping that the time they spend together would be enough to distract her from thinking about the case. She could see what he was doing and was grateful that he somehow knew what to do for her.

They were currently sitting at Charlie's favorite gelato place, cups in hand as they just quietly took in the hustle and bustle of downtown Los Angeles in the middle of the afternoon.

"Penny for your thoughts? You've been awfully quiet since we got here, doll," Sebastian mused, purposely using his character's preferred female term of endearment which he knew she secretly loved.

Charlie sighed as she set her half empty cup down and looked at her beau with slight unease. The waiting was still driving her crazy, despite Sebastian's best efforts.

"I just really, really want all this to be over, you know? Don't get me wrong, I do love you for asking me to go out while we're here, but...ugh, you also know how much of a worrier I am and I just can't help it."

Sebastian scooted closer to his fidgeting woman and pressed his lips to the side of her head. Charlie responds by leaning her head on his shoulder and letting out a shaky sigh.

"If you keep it up, you're going to give yourself a heart attack," he finally says. "Loosen your grip a little. Try to channel that woman two days ago on that bike trail. Remember how you felt pressed up against the tree with my ha---"

Charlie laughed and slapped Sebastian's leg.

"Sebastian!"

"What? I'm just helping you out! I mean...you did say that was one of---"

"Oh my god! You're incorrigible!"

Sebastian smiled knowingly at Charlie and she realized that once again, he'd been successful at diverting her attention, as unusual his way might have been. She couldn't help the smile that formed in her lips while he scrunched his nose and winked at her. Charlie's chest felt like it would explode at the amount of emotion she felt for Sebastian at that moment.

What she didn't know was that Sebastian was feeling quite similarly as her. It was a solemn promise he made to himself that when she agreed to finally move in with her; that she would never feel alone, that he would do everything in his power to keep her smiling until she tells him to stop, and even then, he still would pour his best efforts to make her happy. He had taken full responsibility for her happiness like his own that he forgot where his own ended and hers started.

"Well it worked, didn't it?" he said, just lacing his voice with the tiniest bit of smugness he could muster.

"It did, it did," Charlie responded with a grateful smile. "Thank you. I don't think I ever told you that while we're here, with everything you've done."