Yawning widely, Aleyna made her way up the stairs of the apartment block where she lived. The afternoon shift at the Clinic had been just as busy as usual, but she supposed it made up for the fact that the morning had been quiet as anything. Checking her watch, she let herself into the apartment she shared with Declan, glancing around. There was a note on the fridge to tell her not to worry, he'd be staying at Rose House tonight. Which was just as well, because she'd asked Charlie to come around tonight. She had a feeling they needed to talk, without Declan around to distract or cloud the issue.

Dropping her bag, she shed her scrubs and climbed into the shower, washing off the excess of the day before getting into her shorts and tank. It was too hot for clothes, really, but 'Ley didn't think Charlie would be entirely comfortable talking to her if she was naked.

Aleyna wasn't the only one checking their watch. Charlie was one who was never late a day in his life. He'd even been born just on time; not that he knew that. The steps were taken two at a time as he hurried along towards the apartment.

Charlie had needed time to think things over since the last time he'd seen Dec and 'Ley, so he'd avoided them both; until now. Once at the top of the stairs, he knocked and took a step back. He was in a comfortable pair of cargo shorts, his ever present signature wife beater and hurachi sandals. His hair was unbound and hung to his waist, as usual.

Bare foot and with her own hair hanging damp about her shoulders, 'Ley padded over to the door, peeking through the spyhole before she pulled it open. Years of living with Declan had been spent drumming it into her never to open the door to anyone she was not expecting or did not recognise. Her face creased in a gentle smile as she took in Charlie's appearance. "Hey there, starshine," she greeted him warmly, pulling the door fully open and stepping aside. "Come in?"

Charlie didn't have to wait for long before the door was opened. "Well hello," his smile matched hers and he entered the apartment when invited. "So, how've you been?" He wandered slowly before picking a spot to sit on the couch.

"Busy," 'Ley answered him easily as she closed the door behind him, turning to follow him further into the apartment. "I've been back at work since we last saw each other. Would you like a drink? I mean juice or water or something, I'm not into alcohol right now," she added quickly, in case he thought she was trying to seduce him or something.

"Oh, yeah, sure." He nodded as he folded his hands between his knees. "Work's been busy. That's good, right?" He was starting to feel a bit nervous again and he began to chew on his lower lip. "Where's Dec?"

"Well, one way it's good, work being busy," she smiled, moving past to the kitchen to pour a couple of glasses of pineapple juice. "On the other hand, it means more people are getting sick or hurt, so not so good." Shrugging lightly, she brought the glasses over to the couch, setting them down on the coffee table before curling up in a corner of the couch, facing him. "Dec's been doing some work on Rose House - you know, the orphanage? He left a note, says he'll be staying over there tonight." She cleared her throat, glancing at the fridge before returning her gaze to him. "I thought we should talk, just you and me. I think I'm probably the best person to answer any questions."

Charlie watched her as she spoke and poured their drinks. "Yeah, would kind of suck to be so busy at other's expense." He didn't mean it like it sounded, but once it was out there, he didn't attempt to apologize or retrieve it. Leaning forward, he took the juice and then settled back into the soft cushions of the couch. "I don't have any questions, I don't think. I mean, I do, but I don't know how to ask them without offending so I think I'll just try to figure things out for myself." All of that was said with a single breath and he only stopped when he realized he was rambling. He quickly took a sip, as if he stopped just for that sole purpose.

'Ley frowned a little as he spoke. "Well ... let me put it like this," she attempted, tilting her head as she looked at him. "Dec misses you. Hell, I miss you being around. And it's hurting him that you seem to be avoiding us. So working it out on your own isn't working as well as you'd like."

His brows creased just a bit and he sighed when she explained what his avoidance had done. "I'm sorry, Aleyna. It's just that I don't want to mess up what you and Dec have. He's your guy and you're his girl. It's not right for me to get tangled up in the middle of that. It's not fair to either of you." He was slowly spinning the glass of juice between his hands and he lowered his head to stare into the surface.

"Mmm." 'Ley's smile returned, gentle and understanding probably more than Charlie would like. "He screwed up his explanation," she conjectured with a faint snort. "Charlie, we're not conventional people. And it's more than possible to love two people at the same time, in the same way. Dec and I, we're very, very close friends, who sleep together. It's still love, but it's not the wild passion that you seem to think it is. I'm completely okay with Dec taking another lover, especially if that lover is you."

If Charlie wasn't confused before, he certainly was now. His head jerked up and his jaw began working before his mind could figure out just what words should spill out. His hands gestured towards her, as if he were holding out something that he really wanted her to have. "But how can you not be jealous?" He finally formulated a question and blurted it out.

'Ley's smile softened. "Because being in love, properly in love, includes wanting the ones you love to be happy," she said softly. "And Dec's unusual in that he's happiest when he's in love with two people. I want him to be happy, and I want you to be happy as well. Jealousy just makes a mess of everything."

"I don't think I can do it, 'Ley," he shook his head slowly. "I was taught to share my toys when I was little. I was taught to share my Halloween candy with the other kids at Rose House when I was little. But I don't think I can share when it comes to loving somebody. It's not something I was taught. Love is one on one."

"I think you can," she said quietly. "I think you know you can, deep down. You love both your parents, don't you, in the same way? How is this any different, deep down at the most basic level? Charlie, you wouldn't have come when I called if you didn't think you could do this. You'd have run a mile in the opposite direction."

"But I don't know enough about him to do it." Charlie laughed and lay his head back. He didn't realize where his hand was laying, so comfortable to just be where he was. "And he is very affectionate, I'll give him that. Possessive too. He pulled me into his lap the moment I came into reach. And the look on his face was 'mine! mine!'"

"You'll learn about him soon enough," Aleyna assured him with a grin, tilting her head to look up at him. His description of Dec's possessiveness was bang on the nail, leading her to question just how careful her flatmate was being with his heart. "He likes you. He likes you a lot. Smitten, one might almost call it."

"I don't know why," he laughed, remaining reclined with his eyes closed. "Really, there's nothing special about me. I'm skinny and I have a lot of hair that I can't get rid of. It's a pain sometimes."

"There's a lot special about you, and the fact that you can't see it just mades you more adorable." She spoke without thinking, not even considering that her comment might make him uncomfortable. "Kinda makes me wonder what would have happened if I'd seen you first."

The compliment hadn't made him uncomfortable; he'd been showered with them since he was a little boy. But her last sentence gave him pause. Lifting his head, he arched a brow. "You and Dec compete over who can bring home the hottest guy or girl?"

She laughed at that. "Oh gods, no." She patted his hand gently to reassure him. "I just mean that I'm a little more subtle when it comes to guys I like than Dec is. He leaps right in and leaves them in no doubt at all that he'd move hell and high water to have them; takes a lot of the fun out of it. Not that he's a slut, or anything ... it's rare for him to meet someone who blows him away the way you have."

"Oh," he relaxed again into that comfortable recline. "His name's Slut, regardless. He semed proud of it when I called him that." There was a soft chuckle that rumbled around his chest at the memory. "Truthfully, when I first met him, I didn't know if he wanted to throttle me or kiss me."

She giggled. "I'd have liked to have seen that. You should feel proud; that only happens when he really likes someone." She glanced up at Charlie with a fond smile. "He probably came on, and then turned off, and then came on again, right?"

"Like a light switch," he nodded in agreement. "Then Ms. Millard said something about collars. I still don't get it, but they thought it was pretty funny." He scratched his scalp again and shrugged. "All I said was that he needed to be put on a collar and led around for a bit."

"Oh ..." 'Ley smiled gently. "A collar can be a sexual thing - it's a sign that you've submitted to someone in a very specific way," she explained, hoping he wouldn't want her to go into detail. How did you explain D/s to a virgin?

"You're kidding, right?" He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Ms. Millard, the matriach and icon of matronly things to him, could even consider, much less know, about such things. "I guess I stuck my foot into my mouth that time."

"No, it's sweet," she chuckled softly. "And sexy, too. Dec was probably pretty shocked that you proposed collaring him, though - he's not the submissive type."

Now he blushed a bit, but was unable to do his usual trick of hiding behind a curtain of hair. "He seemed eager, almost. It was Ro that suggested him collaring me, too."

"It sounds like this Ro person likes stirring the pot," 'Ley grinned, reaching up to stroke his blushing cheek. "Maybe she thinks you need looking after, too."

"Ro's a nice lady," he murmured as his cheek was stroked. "She's been looking out for me almost my entire life. So if anybody would know whether I need looking after or not, it's her."

"And she obviously approaves of Dec, or she wouldn't have suggested it." Since he seemed to be enjoying it - and she certainly was - 'Ley kept her fingers stroking gently against his cheek, watching him for the first signs of discomfort so she could pull her hand away in time.

"But who wouldn't approve of Dec? He's funny and charming and smart and good looking. He has the world around his little finger." There wasn't a single ounce of poison or regret to his voice. Her fingers against his cheek was quite relaxing and his eyes fluttered closed as he smiled.

"Not the whole world," she murmured softly, lowering her voice as his eyes closed, not wanting to disturb what seemed to be a very promising turn of events. "He doesn't make friends as easily as you might think."

"Mmmm.." his arm shifted, fingertips gently brushing the material of her shirt. "I can imagine him with an entire harem." His laugh was soft and light. "I think you're trying to put me to sleep."

"He wouldn't be happy with a harem." It was said with complete confidence; 'Ley knew Dec only wanted what he needed. It was just unusual that what he needed was a little more than most people when it came to his heart. "And hey, no sleeping on the job. You're keeping me company, remember?"

"He wouldn't? But I thought one wasn't enough for him." At her last remark, he kept his eyes stubbornly closed and tried not to laugh as he feigned a loud snore.

"Two isn't a harem, it's family." She glanced up at the snore, rolling her eyes wth a chuckle, and spoke a threat she was more than capable of carrying out. "If you're really asleep, you're going to wake up with me in your lap."

"You practically already are." He grinned and snored again. "And two's company, three's a crowd." His eyes opened a crack just to see what her reaction would be to his last statement.

Her cheeks flushed at that statement of his, and she looked down quickly, just in case he was looking. Her hand fell from his cheek as she swallowed hard. It was a slap in the face, to be reminded that he didn't want her at all.

"It's not so ba-aaad," she gasped as he drew her up with him, painful twinges setting off right through her as various places protested at being jostled. Her arm held tight around his neck as she leaned against him. "Okay, so maybe I'm being optimistic."

"I'm sorry!" With each step, grimace, groan and caught breath, Charlie stopped and apologized. There were thirteen steps and thirty apologies made before they got to the landing where the apartment was. "Do you want me to get Declan?"

By the time they reached the apartment door, Aleyna was laughing, as well as wincing, at all the apologies. "Charlie, shush, it's fine," she kept saying. "No, Dec doesn't need to know what's happened. Just ... help me get settled somewhere, okay?"

"Okay!" His head hurt, still, as he maneuvered her into the apartment. "Bedroom or couch?" Charlie glanced around, his head owl-like on his neck as he looked back and forth.

"Bed." She made the decision quickly enough; she was more likely to relax there, without the added concern of having to get up again to settle more comfortably.

"Okay!" He turned towards the triple doors and chose one. Luckily it was hers and soon he had her lying down. He didn't lie with her; in fact he stood three feet from the bed, wringing his hands. "Are you sure you don't want Declan here?"

"I'm sure," she insisted, pushing herself to sit up painfully. "Come here."

Charlie glanced about, an unsure look upon his face. He crept forward, until he was standing over her. "Yeah," he swallowed hard.

Aleyna rolled her eyes, reaching up to give him a gentle tug. "Seriously, Charlie, you're not going to make it more than a couple of blocks before you pass out," she told him firmly. "You just got Healed - it takes more than just my energy to do that, you know."

His arm was tugged at and he nearly sat down. Centimeters from his bottom hitting the comforter, he stood back up. "I don't know that being in bed with you is a good idea. Last time you held me down and Dec ... Dec ..." His face turned red as he scowled. "Well, you know what he did."

"Well, it's sleep in here, or anywhere else in the apartment, where Dec's likely to walk in on you and get the wrong idea," 'Ley pointed out, laying back. "I'll keep my clothes on."

"What do you mean, get the wrong impression?" Now he was confused again. "Dec said that we weren't allowed to touch each other."

"Oh gods ..." 'Ley groaned. "He means not to play around with each other, get each other's hopes up and then break them," she explained. "Everything's clear, isn't it? You're not interested in me that way, and I won't press you. But trust me ... unless you lie down soon, you're going to collapse, and I'm not strong enough to get you anywhere."

His knees began to tremble and he looked down at the bed, warily. "Why would he get a bad impression if I'm anywhere but here?" His right knee jerked out from under him and he was barely able to catch his balance. It was enough to make him sit down on the coverlet near her feet.

"Not a bad impression, the wrong impression." 'Ley reached over and gave him a tug back. "Just give in, Charlie; you're safe with me." She stretched, pushing herself back on the bed until her head found one of the pillows. "C'mon."

"What wrong impression?" He fell back, then curled on his side. There was much wriggling and adjusting to do to make sure those golden locks didn't get pinned under himself.

"That you're here for him, the way he's been fantasising about," she murmured, making certain to curl up with her back pressed to his, no matter how unnatural it felt. "He'd take advantage of it without thinking, and hate himself for it."

"Oh." Reaching for a pillow, he tucked one under his chin and closed his eyes. "And with me in here, he's going to think I want you and back off of me."

"No, he won't." She reached back and slapped his hip. "Trust me, he won't think twice about it. We're dressed, remember?"

"Oh yeah, thought I was uncomfortable." He chortled softly and hugged the pillow even more tightly. "G'night, Aleyna."

"Sweet dreams, Charlie," she murmured back, nuzzling her face into the pillow with a soft sigh. Sleep came quickly for them both; what needed to be said, had been said.