You're More Than A Woman To Me (Parallel NurseryVerse Series)

Chapter 1: "Don't Let This Darkness Fool You."

((TW: Sharps))

"1..2..3..4..5..6..7.."

"Charlotte?"

"1...2...3...4...5...6.."

"Baby, come back to me."

"...8..7..6..5..4.."

"Char!!"

**

The dark had always been a place Charlotte wanted to avoid. Call it childhood trauma, insignificant fear, maybe even downright ridiculousness. But when the sun set, and light gave way to dark corners and deafeningly loud silences, Charlotte became afraid. She could never quite place the fear, especially not to anyone who asked her. Most people would roll their eyes, dismiss her fears as 'childish'. But not Amelia, not her sweetheart. The first time Mia had stayed over, Charlotte had tried to sheepishly explain it, offering to sleep elsewhere if the nightlight would keep Mia awake. Mia had called it preposterous, practically pinning her to the bed with promises that she would sleep just fine with the nightlight. Charlotte didn't understand how anyone could be so patient, so understanding and kind. Especially when she had spent her whole life trying to explain her way out from under a very dark shell.

That night was no different. The sun set, allowing the darkness to swallow the world whole yet again. Charlotte kept her eyes glued to the sink as she washed the dishes from her and Mia's dinner. The blind was raised in front of her, the darkness of the world on display. She scrubbed the plate in front of her rigorously, focusing on a spot she couldn't quite get clean. Mia came up behind her, reaching to pull the blind down. As it settled on the window frame, Charlotte's shoulders visibly relaxed.

"Dinner was great, baby." Mia directed the conversation away from Charlotte's racing thoughts. For that, Charlotte was thankful. She knew what Mia was doing, but she didn't mind it.

"It was nothing, really." Charlotte rested the soapy dishes down, wiping her hands against her shirt. She turned to face Mia with a smile. "Just an old family recipe my mum passed down." She rested her hand against Mia's stomach, locking eyes with her lover.

"So I need to be dating your mum then?" Mia made shocked eyes mockingly. Charlotte lightly smacked her stomach, pressing her lips together.

"You're demented." Charlotte giggled as she turned back to the sink.

"Baby, your words! They sting!" Mia grabbed her chest dramatically, throwing her body into the counter next to Charlotte. She rolled her eyes, flicking a glob of soapy bubbles in Mia's direction. Mia giggled, wiping her nose clear of the bubbles.

"Are the kids at their dad's this weekend?" Mia asked as she began to hand dry dishes. Charlotte secretly loved domesticating Mia, she had not even meant to- but Mia did more cleaning than she did now.

"Yeah, David has them through Monday." Charlotte rinsed off her last plate, passing it to Mia. "What are you thinking?" Charlotte turned off the sink, grabbing the towel to dry her hands.

"Well, I have a little bit of business to attend to this weekend out in-"

"Mia! You're leaving again?" Charlotte whined, cutting off Mia's sentence with a whimper.

"-in Alaska. I was wondering if you wanted to go with me. I checked with Marjorie, she was fine with you leaving on Thursday as long as I promised to have you back at 'Monday morning promptly 8 am, and no later, okay?'." Mia threw up finger quotes, doing her best- albeit the worst Char had ever heard- impression of Marjorie. Still, she couldn't help but giggle at the way Mia had infiltrated what would have been an otherwise routinely frightening evening.