SEVENTEEN: Lovers In A Dangerous Time [FLASHBACK]

Even though things had calmed down in her life, Charity Donimari still felt shaken up. She was living with Bruce, with her dad's acceptance over it. Everything was out in the open and it seemed like things were going to be okay. However, the fights she'd had with Bruce and her father still weighed heavily on her. She was also still getting used to the fact that she was going to be a mother. Things with Bruce seemed to be okay, but she was still a bit jumpy. Noticing the funk she'd been in, Bruce had suggested they go out for the evening.

With summer approaching, it was a beautiful evening to take out his bike, but with her condition didn't want to risk it. She dressed in a pair of denim cut-offs, one of Bruce's T-shirts, and a pair of black flip flops. They took her Cutlass out with Bruce behind the wheel. Small talk was made between the two of them, but Charity wasn't really into it – he could tell by the way she kept giving one-word answers while she stared out the window. She still loved him and wanted to be with him, but she had a lot of noise going on in her head. With her hands clasped in her front, she looked over at her boyfriend when she realized they'd left the city limits. He was staring out the window, driving with one hand but those knuckles were white on the wheel. He seemed tense.

"Where are we going?" The question came out softly as she broke eye contact again.

"Somewhere nice," he replied. If she'd been paying more attention, he figured she could have guessed. The fact that she hadn't made him worry, his fingers on the wheel tightened until his hand started to ache. He'd learned how to drive on a manual transmission and he couldn't bring himself to drive with both hands. The other one kept busy, flipping through the radio station presets or drumming to the music against his thigh. Glancing over at her, Bruce flashed a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Least I hope it'll be."

Charity gave him smile back as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. There was this tension between them that had been there since their big fight. She wanted to soften it, but didn't know how. "I'm sorry I'm so quiet." She sighed, "I haven't been sleeping well. Must be getting used to the new bed."

He nodded, fingers twitching against his thigh. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, to find a way to fix what had been broken but he wasn't really sure how to do that. He wasn't even sure what was wrong – he'd done his best to be fully supportive after the day she'd had the first ultrasound. He'd started working more nights at the club, sleeping less so he'd be around during the day if she needed him. He was tired, but he'd felt like he was making a difference right up until they'd gotten in this enclosed space for this car ride. "I got some books from the library. Ones about…" he trailed off, realizing he sounded like an idiot.

"You did?" She knew what kind of books he'd gotten from the way he trailed off. "When we get back, I'll look at them." She reached over and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Bruce." She hated feeling like this and didn't know how to stop. "I know I've been emotional and I feel like I'm always crying these days. You've been great to me." She brought his hand to her lips and gently kissed his knuckles. "Just, thank you for everything."

"I wanna fix that." The words came out softly, almost lost in the rock music spilling from the speakers. He'd have reached out and turned it down, but she still had his hand in hers. "Shouldn't have any reason tae cry – I know it's natural. Part of this whole thing goin' on with yer body. It just makes me heart ache somethin' fierce."

Charity recognized where they were as he pulled off the road, guiding the sedan into a parking spot. "Coney Island? We haven't been here in awhile." She let go of his hand and undid her seat belt. "It's a good night for it."

"Thought it might be." Bruce cut the engine and turned towards her. "Packed a few snacks… some blankets. Didn't think yeh'd be up for the rides – wasn't even sure if they'd be open this soon in the season. Thought mebbe a nice walk on the beach… a little picnic? Just…"

His idea made her smile and nod. "It's been awhile since we've had an actual date. Good idea." Opening her door, Charity stepped out and shut it firmly, looking over at him. "Want me to carry anything?"

"Go on. Get the blanket from the trunk?" He murmured, watching as she went around back of the car. He slipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out the little velvet jewelry box. He grabbed the wicker picnic basket from the backseat that he'd borrowed from his cousin; he slipped the little box inside so he'd be able to find it later.

She did as he asked and grabbed the blanket. Closing the trunk, she grabbed his hand as they walked toward the beach where they'd spent lots of nights when the weather was nice. "I know you've got to be really tired. You've been working so much." She gave his hand a squeeze. "I don't want to stay out too late, okay?" He'd been working so hard and she didn't want him overdoing it. 

A raw chuckle passed his lips as he shook his head. "It's fine, Babylove. Got the night off so I could spend it with you." The beach beyond the boardwalk was almost deserted, no surprise since it technically wasn't summer for another week. "Was thinkin'..." he hesitated for a moment, looking down at the sand at their feet. "If that bed isn't good for yer sleep? Mebbe should think about givin' up that apartment. It's a hell of a drive tae work… so…" he cleared his throat. "We should take Vicky up on that offer. For the house?" He hadn't even meant to say it but her words in the car were still rattling around in his head, making him feel like a selfish asshole.

Charity stopped and turned to look at him. For a moment she wasn't even sure if she'd heard him correctly. "Are you serious?" That was the last thing she'd have expected to hear him say. "I thought you didn't wanna move into the house? I know you aren't his biggest fan."

Bruce shook his head slowly, considering the question. He didn't really dislike Charity's father. They just had never been close, had never really trusted one another. "Think after he tried tae rearrange the furnishings," he was talking about the punch, obviously, "we're on a better page. Just needed a little time, I think." When she said nothing, he looked away, staring at the water. "I know you want to," his voice came out soft, "so I will." He was trying to tell her how he felt without using those words. One of the books had told him that might help.

"Okay." Charity nodded, looking excited. "I'll call my dad when we get back."

He chuckled, looking down at the ground, thinking she might have something else to share if the night went according to plan. "Should we set the things down here or walk a little further?"

"Here's good." She undid the blanket and spread it out. What Bruce had suggested rolled over in her head. "I'd love to move into the house, but I want you to be one hundred percent on board." Grabbing the basket from him, she set it down on the blanket and grabbed hold of his hands.

"I am." He nodded, realizing he actually was. The house was in a better area, closer to the bar, which meant the commute wouldn't be as bad. He could stop paying rent and utilities at the apartment and save more money. It made sense – even without any of that, the look on her face cemented it. This was what she wanted and he wanted her to be happy. "It makes sense, Cherry. Was just bein' willfully daft – obstinate."

That got a laugh out of her as her arms went around his neck. She got on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. Over the past few days, she hadn't been the first one to make a move. Even though the decision had been made to keep the baby and things had smoothed over with Vic, she still had this underlying fear that the other shoe would drop. Pulling back from him, Charity smiled up at him. "Thank you."

He smiled back, feeling some of those doubts in the back of his mind starting to fade. Maybe they could make this work. "C'mon, love. Let's go see how cold the water is." He started to lead her away from the blanket and then pulled away, going back to rummage in the basket for a moment. He came up with a bottle of water, palming the jewelry box before slipping it into his pocket again. "Sorry. Feelin' a little parched." Cracking the seal, he took a drink and then offered it to her.

"No problem." She grabbed the bottle from him and took a long sip. "Water's probably freezing." The water usually didn't warm up until the middle of June. She took his hand again, needing the physical contact with him. "I'll give my dad a call in the morning and let him know we want to move in." She was getting all these ideas on how she wanted to fix it up for them.

Bruce gave her hand a squeeze and kicked off his sandals, enjoying the coolness of the night sand between his toes. They were close to the tide line, where the waves had left a line of debris on the wet sand. He tossed the bottle gently back on the blanket when she handed it back, barely even looking. His eyes were locked on hers. "Dare me tae walk in?"

She raised an eyebrow playfully and smirked at him. "I don't just dare you; I triple dog dare you!" She slid off her own flip-flops, joining him. "You can't back out because it was a triple."

"Awww… shyte." He grinned but he took a few steps into the wet sand, bracing himself as the next wave approached. The water washed against his ankles, icy but it wasn't the coldest he'd felt. He'd had showers at his old place like that on a regular basis when the hot water heater was on the blink. The bottoms of his jeans were soaked, clinging to his skin, making it so much worse. Shivering, he tugged on her hand, pretending like he was going to drag her into the water as well.

"Nononono…." She dug her feet in the sand and shook her head repeatedly. "You don't wanna do that, because if I'm cold, the baby will be too!" She didn't know if it was true or not, but it sounded plausible. Despite her protests, she moved up to him and once again put her arms around his neck. "I'll go in the water, but only if I can steal your body heat."

"Hey now!" Bruce chuckled, his arms wrapping around her waist. When the next wave came, he kissed her deeply, stifling her shocked gasp at the cold. Laughing, he lifted her and carried her back to the dry sand. "Well, can die knowin' the water on the first of June's still witch-titty-cold. Yeh were right, Cherry-love."

"I usually am." She said this jokingly as she was set down on the blanket. "I'm going to take a guess that skinny-dipping is not on the menu tonight." The tension between them was starting to fizzle out and she was starting to feel like they were getting back on track.

"I value the jewels enough tae nix that, aye. Not keen on having me bawbag crawl right back up inside." Bruce laughed as he knelt next to her, feeling the tension vanishing as though the cold water had pulled them both from a deep sleep. "Nice out here…" he looked down the beach, seeing a few more people here and there – a man walking his dog and two women jogging near the tide line. "We always seem tae pick the best day. Must be luck. Or we're just better together?"

Before she could comment, he raked both hands through his hair, smoothing it back as he straightened his shoulders. "Cherry, know I've been an absolute dobber lately. Promise, if yeh'll give me half a chance, I'll do better. I'll be…" he sighed, shaking his head. He'd planned this all out, what he was going to say and now that he was actually going through with it, the words were getting all tangled. "Aw, hell. Am no good at this. Just…" he opened his hand, that little velvet box resting on his palm. "Was gonna wait 'til yer birthday. But…" he fumbled to open it and then held it out to her. The ring nestled against the black velvet looked old, aged gold that perfectly accented the green emerald that sat in the middle of Celtic knotwork. "The stone… the gold… was from Grammy's necklace. Only thing I brought with me from Glasgow. Had it made into somethin' special. For you, love."

She was staring at him in shell-shocked silence and he cursed himself for bungling this up in the worst way. "Cherry…" he stopped again, took a deep breath. "Charity, I wanna make an honest woman outta yeh… want our wean tae be legitimate. So… will you marry me?"

It wasn't a surprise when she teared up and made no attempt to wipe them away. The ring was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Oh, Bruce." The answer to his question was an easy one. "Yes, yes, yes…" She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. "A million times yes…. I love you!" She pressed her lips against his and felt the dread melt away.