The soft feel of her warm touch made him exhale slightly. Not through anything in particular – just because it was comforting. Her words hurt. Not because they were true but because they were wrong. Extremely wrong.

“No,” he said pulling from her touch, “you don’t make me drink. You are the reason I smile. I…” Charles looked to the side before looking deep into her eyes once again, “I’m…” He wanted to spill everything to her but he couldn’t.

He was a man and he could not be shown as weak. He also couldn’t let his guard down. He didn’t know what was going to happen and despite his best judgement – and the voice on his shoulder telling him this would end badly – Charles opened his mouth.

“I’m not doing this,” he said as he stood up and moved toward the door, “I should go. This… I-“ Charles exhaled, “This - whatever this is – is confusing and…” Charles exhaled once again, wiping his eyes, “I don’t know what to do, Emmeline. I can’t. I don’t-” The words were lost on him, “I’m falling for you and I don’t know how to react. That’s why I’m drinking and I cannot cope with it. It is overwhelming and I cannot stand it. This – this – is too much for me. I’m sorry. I… I don’t want to hurt you. And I don’t know how- I don’t know what I’m supposed to do right now.”

---

  

He pulled away. And then he was on his feet to leave. All the while, Emmeline fell back from her kneeling position and found herself sat on the ground with her feet under her. She stared at him in evident shock, lips slightly parted as she simply watched him.

She didn't move. She didn't think she could. Instead She simply sat there on the kitchen floor with those silent tears streaming down her face as she continued to watch him. She wasn't going to stop him from going if that was what he really wanted to do.

She simply nodded in response, a silent answer for him to go whatever he thought he needed to.

---

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles stared as she slumped to the ground. His brain told him to leave though his heart willed him to stay and every part of his core was tearing itself apart. Every fibre in his body was being pulled in opposite directions and nothing would stop the whirlwind in his mind. It was destructive and dangerous. It was beyond understanding - beyond recognition - it was something he had not yet experienced and the one common thought he shared between the conflict he was feeling was that the bottle of rum on the table looked particularly appealing right now.

But he couldn't.
He wouldn't.
He needed to figure out what he was doing and through everything, one memory flooded his mind for a brief moment.

I shan’t be happy until I’m content you have calmed yourself down.

Then Charles saw her truly; the tears streaming down her face, the hopeless expression lost in her own sea of emotion and it pierced his soul like a knife through his heart. He couldn't leave. He couldn't stay. There was nothing he could do.

So he stood there for a minute watching her in silence just as she watched him. And maybe that was all that was needed.

Moving toward her, Charles knelt down to where she was sat and tried to smile though he couldn't muster one.

"I..." two more words wanted to leave his lips though he wouldn't allow them, "I can't stand seeing you like this. Seeing us like this."

Sitting in front of her, Charles moved his hands to wrap around her as he pulled her into a hug; his legs crossed, her head against his shoulder.

He was at a loss and it pained him more than imagination could conjure.

---

  

Emmeline watched as he watched, neither of them knowing what to say clearly and the silence was terrifying. What did one say after all that had been said? The night had clearly taken a drastic turn and she found herself wishing that they could start over.

And then he was kneeling by her, trying to smile when clearly neither of them could manage it. She listened as he spoke, moved easily when he pulled her into a hug. It was comfortable still even if her whole being ached with everything that had happened.

"Why can nothing ever just be simple?" she asked, more a generalized question than anything and not really expecting an answer.

---

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Keeping his arms wrapped around Emmeline, Charles planted a soft kiss on the top of her head.

“Because simple things aren’t worth the effort,” He shrugged nonchalantly. Charles believed that the best things in life had to be worked toward and if it was easy or came to you without much effort, then it was not worth the time. And it seemed that way of thinking ran especially deep when it came to Emmeline Woodcroft.

“But you are worth it,” Charles said softly before chuckling a little, “And why do we always end up doing this?” It was rather silly, he thought, “Every time we meet, I find myself torn. I think we need… I don’t know. I think we need to set some boundaries because I don’t want to keep arguing with you.”

---

  

Emmeline didn't move in the slightest, even as she felt the kiss placed on top of her head. She was comfortable and could likely even fall asleep there if she were honest. She wouldn't though, couldn't really. Even if she could, her parents would come in eventually though she had a feeling they were well aware of what was going on. It wasn't as if their home was large. They surely heard most of what had happened. Her mom would have, at least. Her father, too, if he hadn't passed out already.

"I think so long as we have an understanding that there's more than just a friendship here," she said softly, finally pulling back just enough so that she could look up to him as she spoke, "But that we both have goals that need to be met first, I think that should be enough." She didn't think there were many more boundaries that could be set. Beyond what propriety already dictated regardless of the fact they'd already trod all over some of those.

---

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles nodded as a smile brushed across his features; hearing her say they were definitely more than friends was something he wasn’t expecting – though it was a nice surprise. Her mention of meeting goals struck true to him too and as much as felt inclined to protest – want more than he could – he was inclined to agree. She needed to set up her future and he needed to focus on his career.

Smiling toward her in silence for a few seconds, Charles opened his mouth and spoke softly, “More than friendship?” He smirked playfully, “and in what sense would ever you- would you ever mean, Miss Woodcroft?” He said, sticking his tongue out.

---

  

Emmeline watched him a bit warily as he was silent for a few moments. She sincerely wished she could see what he was thinking as the silence was a bit terrifying for her. But luckily, he smiled shortly after and then smirking. She smirked back and laughed lightly.

"I don't often make it a habit to kiss someone multiple times and let them pull me into their laps," she answered simply, raising a brow as if he dared to question such, "Especially if they were just a friend." No, there was definitely more there between them whether either of them wanted to admit to the true feelings or not.

---

  

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#LovelyLadySet

“That’s true,” Charles said as he smiled toward her, “I’m glad that we are more than simply friends, Ems.”

He hadn’t been more honest had he tried in that moment. He could feel the two were blossoming into an orchard of sorts and he wanted nothing more than to see it bear fruit. Shuffling a little to allow her to move so she was more comfortable, Charles ran his hand through her hair – pulling a few strands over her ear, “I wish we could stay in this moment.”

---

  

Emmeline hummed a sound of agreement with a slight nod as she settled her head back on his shoulder. She was more comfortable that way but she'd wanted to see how he reacted to what she said. It was a serious thing after all. But she was glad he'd agreed.

"Except perhaps not on a kitchen floor," she answered with a playful tone coming back to her voice, "It isn't the most comfortable." She almost added she'd prefer something softer..But she didn't want to insinuate she meant a bed or anything. Even if that thought entering her mind sent a blush to her cheeks.

---

  

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#LovelyLadySet

“Oh?” Charles grinned a little, “Where would you rather be?” Of course – he knew nothing would come of their time together. Not yet – though that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease her about it. His own thoughts drifted to manoeuvres in bed at her words though he knew how to contain himself – however hard that may have been.

“I can think of a few places.”

---

  

Emmeline's cheeks became an even more vivid shade of red with his last comment. She pulled back to swat at him to try and play it off as him simply embarrassing her even though her own thoughts may have already headed in that direction.

"You," she started, smirking at him after another swat, "Mr. Cauflield are a horrible influence." Her tone was a joking one though. She had already said she liked him the way he was after all.

---

  

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#LovelyLadySet

Moving at her playful slap, Charles grinned and let out a small laugh. Influence? Horrible? Ha! He was the best kind of influence on her, he thought!

Laughing as he spoke, Charles shrugged, “A horrible influence you love,” He said before realising what he’d said.

He… Oh Merlin, “As in, I mean- Love to be influenced by,” He swallowed and shifted a little. This was not going well, “I mean, you know. You like being around me.”

Charles Caulfield: smoothest man alive.

---

  

Emmeline's eyes widened at the mention of the word love, her smile even falling as her lips formed a surprised "o." Her cheeks were still just as red as she watched him try to cover up what he'd just said. She didn't deny it though, didn't even think to argue such a thing.

"You aren't wrong," she ended up saying but didn't specify what exactly he wasn't wrong about. She was quickly starting to feel too warm though and ended up pushing away to stand up off the ground. "The floor really isn't comfortable," she said with a small smile as she offered a hand to him to help him up even if he likely didn't need it.

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#LovelyLadySet

Not entirely sure what she meant by him not being wrong, Charles opted to simply ignore it and took a hold of her hand as he pushed himself from the ground. He smiled toward her and gestured toward the chairs, moving to sit on one himself.

He could have chosen to drink some more rum then – and heaven knows his gut told him to – though he didn’t. He’d said he wasn’t going to drink because of their situation and he had every intention of sticking to it.

Once she’d taken place in her own chair, Charles inhaled softly before exhaling contentedly, “So, erm… you never told me which books you were reading for your studies.”

---

  

Both on their feet, Emmeline followed him easily enough to the chairs and perched on her own much like she always did. With her chin on her knees she gave him a small shrug as she brought her arms around her legs to clasp together. "Just some of the books from last year," she answered simply, "I've already been through them before but I figured a refresher wouldn't be a bad thing. Especially considering there isn't much else I could be doing."

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#LovelyLadySet