Time Warp: Picture Perfect (Charlie)

[Connor Anderson]

2021


Twenty three year old Connor stretched casually in Sona’s saddle as the gelding stepped carefully down the path they were riding down. Today was a perfect day – warm weather without a cloud in sight, birds chirping in trees, and the girl woman he loved beside him.

It was good to be home from school for a little while. Studying business was only so interesting before he went a little cross-eyed, so to be out for summer was a nice change. What was better, Charlie staying with him during the break. So what if he had to go back to mucking stalls and grooming and generally helping out around the farm? He was just happy to be there.

His parents had let him off the hook for chores today for one very simple reason. A reason that was currently burning a figurative hole in his pocket. Every so often his hand would shift from the reins to the spot a very special something resided. Hopefully Charlie wouldn’t notice.

He was still impressed how his parents had embraced Charlie into the family, and even more so that just this past Christmas they had gifted her not only some practical things, but now that she was retired from racing they had also given her Radiant Moon as well. The mare had done well as a racehorse, but she hadn’t proved a great performer when it came to breeding. Gifting her to Charlie had been something Cononr hadn’t expected. Sure, he’d put Radiant in Charlie’s name the year she was foaled, but for his parents to follow through and give her to his girlfriend had been… something amazing.

Glancing over at Charlie, he smiled at her. “We’re almost to our destination.” He knew the trails around the farm like the back of his hand, and he was taking her somewhere new. Somewhere special.

[Charlotte Greene]

What a wonderful thing it was to exist on a day like today.. Not only was there Connor, there was Sona and Radiant Moon.. Quite possibly the best three things in Charlie's life.. and they were all on the fourth - Connor's family's farm.. which was run by the fifth - Connor's amazing family (even is ornery brother, Curtis). The weather was perfect, the sky blue, and Charlie and Connor were out for a pleasant relaxed ride... How amazing it was that things had come as far as they had. A decade ago Charlie had been a heartbroken little girl terrified of the fact that she's sprouted wings and missing her uncle so much that it hurt.. Five or so years ago, she'd finally decided to go to the gym at Hammel to try to figure out some sort of exercise that would help her stretch her back out so she could sleep..

That was when she'd met Connor. Her gaze shifted from the scenery to the wonderful young man that had been so kind as to help her that day. The only person on earth who could have touched her - even just in order to spot her or show her stretched - and have it be okay. She smiled the wide, amazing, genuine smile that she knew Connor loved so much as she thought back to that first day.. They'd been leaving the gym and Charlie hadn't been able to help herself.. She'd been the one to apply the 'date' label to what would have otherwise been a simple accompaniment to the cafeteria.... It was, perhaps, the most bold thing she had ever done for herself.. and it was perhaps one of the things she was most thankful for. He'd said yes.

She'd never suspected that Connor came from money, nor that he rode (let alone raised) horses.. she'd never thought about his family or about spending time with him alone.. giving him her virginity.. bearing his children.. becoming a part of his family.. being this happy. Every day with Connor had been magical in it's own right ever since the first time she'd laid eyes on him. Charlie truly and honestly believed that her late uncle must have had something to do with putting him in her life.. and if it was his last gift to her, she would be grateful for the rest of her life.

"Can't we just canter around the property for.. forever?" She steered Radiant Moon over close enough to Sona that she could reach out, take Connor's hand, and plant a kiss on it. "It's so wonderful here.. with you.. with Sona and Radiant.. Everything is so wonderful.." She took in a great breath and sighed it out in a jubilant breath, letting her head loll back and her arms spread wide. Radiant was a wonderful horse and Charlie trusted her like she trusted Connor and Sona. Completely.

Because once upon a time when she'd just been in love with a boy named Connor, he'd invited her home with him for Christmas. Had brought her to his family.. A family with a rich history of breeding, raising, and winning with racehorses. She'd been a poor nobody and Connor hadn't ever doubted her motives or her affection. He had been afraid to scare her off with his family's money.. but he'd never once thought she was 'that kind of girl' who would have been with him for his family.. and indeed, Charlie loved Connor for Connor and his family for themselves.. money be damned. It only got in the way. Charlie would gladly live with none of it if it meant she could live with Connor. If it meant being a part of his life and his family and his thoughts ever day and his drive to be a better himself every time he got out of bed.. if it meant he woke up next to her as often as possible.

Her eyes opened again and she glanced around.. blinking and glancing around again. "I.. I think I might have gotten a little lost thinking about the first time I was here, love.. Have.. I ever been to this part of the farm? I don't recognize.. anything. --How long have we been riding for, anyway?" Only with Connor, only about Connor could Charlie zone out so much that she didn't realize how long she had been given the privilege of riding Radiant Moon...

[Connor Anderson]

Connor was thrilled with how the day was working out so far. No chores, no annoying brothers. Just Charlie, the horses, and perfect weather for his mission. As long as he could carry it out without acting like a complete idiot.

Sona took that moment to snort loudly and shake his head, sending his mane flying and bringing Connor out of his slight daze. It was hard not to keep his head in the clouds, though. If all went according to plan by the end of the day, well…

Charlie would be joining his family. Or at least agreeing to.

Which was one more reason he was grateful that Curtis was away at a racetrack doing some work for another farm. Less chance of him ruining everything.

Like he tried to do that first Christmas. Honestly, he had been somewhat surprised Charlie had wanted much to do with him after that particular incident. Yet she had, and he couldn’t have been more grateful.

So much of Charlie made him feel like he was doing the right thing. She was, as cliché as it was, his sunshine. Even when he was having tough days in school or Sona had tossed him once again, she was always there making it better. She was honestly his everything, and he was having a hard time even waiting to get to his intended place.

“We could… but I think you’ll like what I have in mind better. But if you don’t agree, we’ll take the horses on the track and canter around there for a while.” The track wasn’t as scenic, but it was fun.

Peeking back to rest a watchful eye on his girlfriend and her mare, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief that Radiant was behaving herself. As well as she had done on the track, she seemed to have settled perfectly well into retirement. Better yet, she seemed to be the perfect partner for Charlie.

“We’re not lost. This is a place I used to come when I was a kid.” Slowly, the path opened up into a small clearing. An old-looking, but still sturdy treehouse sat in one of the big trees around the perimeter. Pointing up to it, he smiled. “My dad built that for me and Curtis when we were little.” There was even a small structure that served as a hitching post that had once been used for Flynn. “We’d ride tandem on Flynn sometimes if we were trying to hide from muck duty in the barns. Dad always found us, but he was never mad about it.” During his early teen years, before Hammel, he had often brought his homework out to the treehouse on weekends and watched Flynn graze while he worked.

Carefully dismounting, he came around to Sona’s head and pulled off his bridle, replacing it with the halter he had tucked into a small saddle bag. Tying the lead rope to the hitching post, he removed his saddle as well, setting it in the grass, then waited for Charlie to do the same. Once she was done with Radiant, he beckoned to the ladder. He’d been there earlier in the day, laying out a soft blanket on the floor of the treehouse to make it comfy. “Come on up.”

[Charlotte Greene]

Apparently Charlie had chosen a good time to zone back in to reality. The best time, in fact.. as Connor was reminding her yet again that he had something special in mind. It was no time at all before a wonderful little treehouse came into view and Connor was telling her how he'd spent a lot of time there when he was younger.. There was the tiniest insignificant twinge of 'why have I never been here' but it was vastly overshadowed by wonder at the special reason they were here and at how great it would be to share this place with Connor now.

So when Connor dismounted Charlie followed suit.. in the same way she always did regardless of how childish or silly it was every single time. She raised one leg over the saddle, unhooked her other foot from the stirrup, and slid off Radiant's back like she was a warm furry slide. Plopping to the ground with a giggle, Charlie turned and patted Radiant's neck, murmuring praise to her and droning for a moment about the beautiful mare she'd grown up to be, how she appreciated that she got to spend time with her, that Radiant had carried her out here.

She laced Radiant's lead onto the hitching post with Sona's the same as Connor had, and placed her saddle in a bit of shade provided by the tree that held the treehouse she was of course here to see... But then she couldn't help herself as Connor beckoned her up the ladder.. She spoke in a quiet sing-song voice.. "Connor and Charlie.. sitting in a tree... K-I-S-S-I-N-G...." And then lost herself in silent giggles as she took hold of the ladder and hauled herself easily up.

The treehouse was small but it was .. so welcoming. There was a fresh blanket on the floor - that explained where Connor had been after breakfast - and the whole place just.. felt like Connor. Like this little spot had played no small role in who he was, how he operated.. So Charlie - as Connor seemed endlessly entertained on so many occasions to see - turned and gave the wall of the little treehouse a hug. Because it was important to Connor and was thereby important to Charlie. He'd had much more time with it, but she doubted he'd ever given it a hug so perhaps she could catch up a bit on lost time.

"I love it.. It's so... you. Feels so at home. I can hardly believe I've never been in here before.." She sniffed a few times... then grinned. "It's even got your scent." Assuming they weren't here to walk all over the blanket, Charlie took a step to the side and sat down cross-legged, staring up at Connor and completely okay with doinng nothing else for the entire time they were here together, away from the rest of the world. "Have I told you I love you lately? I love you, I love your family, I love your horses and your farm.. I even love your older brother. I love riding with you, I love sitting with you, I love walking and eating and watching TV with you, reading books and fishing and swimming and relaxing by the lake and sleeping with you.. And now I know for sure that I love being in treehouses with you, too.. I mean, I could have guessed, but now I know for sure. Is that why we're here? Just adding to your resume?"

Charlie gave Connor another big smile and if he didn't sit, would lean back and stretch.. staring at the ceiling and looking at the construction of the treehouse she was already sure had played such a role in Connor's younger years. When she ended up having his children, she'd have to make sure they had a treehouse just like this one.. Maybe bigger, though.. and maybe a bit closer to their someday home. There weren't going to be any 'no girls allowed' rules in the treehouse Charlie and Connor built for their kids.. and Moms were allowed too.

[Connor Anderson]

Taking Charlie to the treehouse wasn’t something that had occurred to Connor until he’d started thinking of ways to go about what he had planned. They’d always been so busy at the farm whenever they’d visited before that it had slipped his mind. But in thinking of quiet places to go that they would remain uninterrupted by parents, farm staff, or brothers… it had been the ideal place.

Smiling and shaking his head at her antics as she slid from Radiant’s back, he remained by the ladder until he was sure the mare was secured and Charlie was done. Upon climbing, he heard her quietly singing below him. It was hard not to love her when she did things like that. Childish? Perhaps. But who was to say that was so wrong?

Once they were up, he watched Charlie take it all in. It wasn’t much – the treehouse wasn’t massive, but it was homey. He’d spent ages hanging out with Curtis, as well as alone in the treehouse, and to share it with Charlie now was everything he’d hoped it would be.

Especially when she hugged the wall. Predictable, maybe, but it was so Charlie.

It also secured in his mind the insanity he was about to pull on her.

“No one’s been in here except me, Curtis, and Dad. And now you.” Curtis had deemed the whole thing babyish ages ago, so Connor felt reasonably certain he’d never brought a girlfriend up.

He settled cross-legged on the blanket as well, running his fingers against the fabric. “I love you too. And I know my family does too.” His mother was always gushing at him about her, and he’d even gotten his father’s quiet approval. Her question took him by surprise, though. Smiling, he shook his head. “No, we aren’t adding to my resume. There’s another reason we’re up here.” A reason that was still burning a figurative hole in his pocket. There was no reason to torture her or draw it out longer than needed. It wasn’t like he thought she would say no or anything.

… Okay. Deep, slow breath. He’d practiced what he wanted to say dozens of times. He’d practiced with Sona, who had been exactly zero help.

“We’re up here, because… um. I love you, Charlie. And… I have a question for you…”

That was a great start.

Not.

“And… you can say no and that’s okay too. But… uh…”

Why was this so hard?

[Charlotte Greene]

"Well it's going in your resume, anyway. I haven't found a place yet that I don't love being with you." She sat back up with a sigh and couldn't help but notice Connor seeming very... flustered. Then she glanced quickly around... Remembered they were in a totally secluded place... A place he's spent time as a kid.. maybe even a place he'd brought girlfriends but.. possibly a place he'd never 'christened'? She grinned furiously and giggled inside.... and with an internal shrug decided that.. yeah. If Connor wanted to release a little tension.. get in a horizontal workout.. make love to her..... Yeah, she was down. Why not? It wasn't too cramped, there was nobody around.. It would be better than the time in the back of his mom's truck, for sure.. But he was so nervous she doubted he would be able to bring it up, let alone go through with it..

And since she was already thinking about it... well.. it did seem like a good way to spend the afternoon.. "You already know the answer, love. Yes, I'll move in with you. Yes, I'll mother your children. Yes, I'll drive you to the airport and fret about you every time you go away on business the entire time you're gone. Yes, I'll have supper waiting every day when you come home from work. Yes, I'll remind you about our anniversary because it's okay that you forget. Yes, I'll love you until the end of time. Yes, I do hope that our kids are metahumans. Yes, I want a bunch of them. My own little heard of chit'lins that we can sic on Curtis and yes, he is going to love them just as much has we will."

She paused a moment to sweep her hair behind her shoulders and stare up at him with those piercing eyes like she was so fond of doing.. it always made him melt a little when she did it just right, and he needed to loosen up right now, anyway. "You already know I'll do anything you ask, anywhere you ask, as long as you ask... and usually even if you wouldn't have... Anything you want because I know you'll do anything I want and I love that about us both. Of course I'll marry you, silly."

Admittedly, Charlie had been about to laugh, and did actually giggle slightly at the idea, but she'd intended to follow it up with something to the tune of 'there, I've answered the hardest question, if you want to fool around in your treehouse from when you were little it should be no big deal' but Connor's jaw had dropped and his eyes were wide open and it looked like someone had sucked the air out of his lungs. Like she'd just guessed.. exactly... er.. what he'd been...... about to ask.........

And Charlie was suddenly almost as pale, eyes just as wide.. open mouth hidden quickly by her hands.. tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes.. "C-connor.. You.. you didn't.. a-ask me here to.. p-p-propose....?" Presumably he would remain completely limp aside from an instinctive movement to pull the ring from his pocket along with an amazed single 'heh'... and at that point Charlie would spring forward like a bear trap and knock him to the ground.....

At which point the two would very, very likely not be saying much more than each other's names for the next short while...

One 'short while' later, Charlie and Connor would quite likely be laying shoulder to shoulder, flushed, and a bit out of breath.. Charlie staring at a gorgeous engagement ring.. "Here.. you.. um.. Will you actually ask me, please?" She sprung to her feet, pulling him up as well. Because Charlie was surprisingly strong... Working on the farm hadn't done anything to dampen her natural strength. "C'mon.. The.. the whole down on one knee thing and everything. Ask me.."

[Connor Anderson]

Connor had to smile. Charlie had a way with phrasing, and this was no exception. She was right, too. He couldn’t think of a single place they’d been together he hadn’t liked. “I’m not sure I want to know how long your version of my resume is now.” Probably easily six or seven pages. … Or a small novel, knowing her.

He wasn’t expecting her to respond like… like that At first he couldn’t wipe the slight expression of alarm off of his face, but he started to relax as she began to list off her answers to unasked questions. Well, unasked for now. At some point, down the road, he would ask all of them. Having the answers in advance would be nice. Chuckling softly, he reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. “I’ll keep all those in mind for future use.” And he would.

But for now, he had a more important question to ask, and now he was a little more relaxed about it. Especially as she reassured him, giving him that look that she knew made his knees a little weak. How could this be hard? Charlie was so very, very perfect, and he loved her. All he had to do was ask –

Wait. What?

He blinked, eyes wide and jaw slack. Wow. Just… she beat him to it? Really? How had she… was he that predictable? Had she seen the ring somehow? What was he supposed to do? All that practicing…

Wait. So she… didn’t know? Swallowing and trying to regain some sort of composure, he slowly nodded. “Y… yeah, actually. I did.” Digging into his pocket, he pulled out the little satin bag that housed the ring. He’d worked hard with a jeweler to get at what he hoped she might like. It wasn’t huge, or flashy, but rather simple, with several small diamonds embedded on the band, and three larger jewels set on the top in a row. One of each of their birthstones, and one white diamond. It had been a long process to get it right, but now it was, and he couldn’t wait to give it to her.

Apparently, that was going to have to wait. And for that, he wasn’t complaining.

Lying next to Charlie, somewhat breathless, Connor watched her study the ring, hoping that her attention to it meant she liked it. As she moved, he let her pull him up, though he did arch an eyebrow at her request. “After you did it for me? I don’t know…” The silliness didn’t last long, though. If she was going to give him the chance to do this right, he was going to take it.

After he got the ring back, he did as she asked and sunk to one knee, the ring gingerly pinched between two fingers as he offered it back to her. “Charlie, you’re the first person I want to see when I wake up, and the last one I want to kiss goodnight. You are my best friend, and I can’t imagine living without you. I love you more than I can possibly measure. Will you marry me?”