Wise words from an old friend.
[[Chuffy Fic, set in Series 33.]]
Duffy had been busying herself looking through a few old boxes Charlie had happily gotten down from the loft for her. They were mainly full of old photo albums of them both, to reminisce, of better days. She sighed, he meant well, but, seeing their lives in black and white only showed her how much time they had wasted. Too many years of regret. Not being brave enough to tell each other how they truly felt. But, she sighed. Seeing their faces captured, one Christmas, as they'd dressed up as Mr and Mrs Claus. It made her smile, they were happy, the best of friends. That was something that had never changed between them. Even if it took them a lot longer to finally be a lot more than that. She continued to look through the albums, and boxes. Smiling to herself, as memories filled her mind, as she remembered all those old faces and happier times once again.
Charlie dropped the keys into the bowl in the hallway, and softly called her name.
“Duffy, Duffy, where are you?”
She sat on the sofa, a box at her feet, a pile of photo albums at her side, and all around the floor.
“Well, you have been busy. Find anything incriminating?” He giggled, as he sat down on the edge of the sofa arm, next to her.
She looked up from the album in her lap, and proudly showed him, ‘the most incriminating of the lot’...
“I'll kill Josh! That! Is not something I’d expect to see!” She exclaimed.
“Oh, um, yes, ha ha." Charlie looked down at the photo and began to chuckle.
"I don't remember being that drunk Mr Fairhead!” Duffy exclaimed, as she pointed at the position on the photo.
“Oh, well, from that angle, um, ha, yeah. It does look a bit.” Charlie giggled once again.
“That, was ‘the New Year's Eve' party at Penny's wasn't it? And that, was NOT how I remember ‘the balloon game' Charlie!” Duffy shook her head at him.
She frowned at him, and shook her head, at the image of her being bent over, and Charlie behind her, trying to pop the balloon on her bum!
Charlie just giggled at her more.
“There better not be any more like that in here Charlie!” Duffy scowled at him.
“Well, I um, maybe I’d better take a look instead yeah?” Charlie coughed to himself, and blushed, clearly he knew there well may be more photos exactly like that.
“Oh, no you don't. Wait a minute...there's more isn't there?”
Duffy scowled more at him.
“I don't know what you’re talking about?” Charlie feigned ignorance.
“You're a terrible liar Charlie Fairhead!” Duffy replied, shaking her head at him.
She turned the page, and saw another one of her, shall we say, poses?
“Charlie!” She exclaimed, as she looked down at more photos of that night.
“What?” Charlie replied, as he looked at the photos.
“Oh, um, yeah, that one.” Charlie added, as he began to blush.
It was from another party game, this time it showed more of her than she had liked, and Charlie's eyebrows raised at the image of her, well, them.
She had remembered the “pint" challenge, she also remembered that after the third attempt she was getting better. The fourth however, not so much. As she covered up the image with her hand. The pint had spilled all down her front, and her blouse showed her bra, and a lot more than that, as she was giggling and trying to dry herself off, and failing. All she could see was, well, Charlie's face staring at her, as she tried to dry her breasts in front of him. Everyone giggling around her.
“Right, that's it. Where's my phone, I'll kill Josh!” Duffy said, as she quickly slammed the photo album shut.
Charlie just burst out laughing.
“Hey, you were getting to the best bit.”
“The best bit?! The best bit?! I'll kill him, and you! Why on earth did he give you these! I'll kill him!”
“For safe keeping, don't want those failing into the wrong hands do we?!” Charlie chuckled at her.
“Don't you dare Charlie Fairhead! He gave you these on purpose didn't he?!” Duffy glared at him.
She got up from the sofa, and put the box down on the floor.
“Well, he knew um, well, ha.” Charlie stuttered, blushing at her.
“Oh wait until I see him!” Duffy said, as she folded her arms at him, visibly annoyed.
“Oh, come on. It's just Josh.” Charlie said, as he got up from the sofa and put his hands on her arms, trying to cheer her up.
“Made you giggle though didn't it? We had some fun back in the day didn't we?” He said, as he smirked at her.
“Well, can’t blame a man for wanting to protect your dignity then can you?” He added, as he gave her his best puppy dog eyes.
She sighed, and looked at him, she unfolded her arms and wacked him on the arm.
“That Charlie Fairhead, is for keeping those photos all those years, and not once showing me them!” Duffy pouted at him, and refolded her arms.
“Who could blame me for keeping them to myself. They were the best years of my life, coz I spent them with you.” He said, as he put his hand underneath her chin, and looked into her eyes.
“Flatterer.” She retorted, a small smirk on her lips.
Charlie just smirked back at her, and winked.
“Oh, you are such a...” She replied, and hit him once again.
“Ow! That hurt!” He rubbed at his arm.
“Good! Now, help me move all this lot, I've got dinner to make soon.” She said, as she tried to move away from him.
He bent down and lifted a box from the floor, as he did so, the bottom fell away and a pile of photos spilled out onto the floor.
“Ooops.” Charlie grimaced, and looked up at her.
“Charlie”, she groaned at him, and shook her head in annoyance.
He then placed the box onto the nearby chair, and bent down to help her.
She began to pick up the photos, and put them into a different box, as she did so, she found an old dusty envelope.
“Oh, what's this? It’s not opened, it’s full of dust so God knows how long it’s been sat in there.” Duffy said, as she handed Charlie the envelope.
“Is that? I recognise the handwriting. That’s from Megan isn't it? I never realised you got one too.” Duffy adds, as she looks up at Charlie. Biting her lip, knowing all too well that the mention of their old friend would cause upset in him.
Charlie sighed, as he looked down at the dusty old letter, he gulped at the mention of Megan's name.
“Yeah, yeah it is from Megan.” He answered her.
“You’re telling me you’ve kept a piece of Megan in that box for nine years? And never once wanted to read her letter? I’m surprised she never haunted you.”
Charlie just stared at the letter, rose from his position on the floor, and became quite subdued.
Duffy saw his reaction, and tried to soften the blow, she knew what he had done to help Megan end her life. She also knew he carried that burden with him every day since.
“I’m sure I’ve still got my letter from Megan somewhere. Do you want me to go and find it before we open yours together? Or, would you rather open it alone?” She added, as she looked up at him, rose from the floor and stood at his side.
“No, no, it's um...” He sighed, as he fingered the writing on the front of the envelope.
“I'm here darling, I'm here, ok.” She said, as she gently rubbed the back of his shoulder in comfort.
“I know, it's just...” He began to say, as he turned to look at her, tears glistening in his eyes.
“It's just Megan Charlie, her words, nothing more than that. An old friend. Our old friend. Ok?” She explained, trying to soothe his emotions.
“Yeah, yeah you're right.” He replied, and sniffed back his unshed tears.
He opened the letter, and began to read:
If you're reading this now, please don't feel any guilt. You did what I asked of you, and that is more than enough. Please don't dwell on it, but I know you will. It was time Charlie, I'd suffered enough. So, please don't regret that. I did it my way, and that's how it should be. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m at peace now. So please be at peace for me too.
Now, listen up Charlie! Here are some home truths. I know you Charlie Fairhead, for more years than I'd like. But, you have and always will be that annoying little brother I could have lived without. But, I didn’t, and couldn't. So, I don't know if that is a blessing or not. Either way, Charlie boy. Thank you for always being there for me, whether I needed it or not. You have been such a dear friend to me, and I treasure the ups and downs we have had. So remember me fondly old friend, we had some good times together you and me. Don't forget them, or me. Coz mark my words, if I have to come back and sort you out for being a fool, I will. And you know I will! Be good Charlie, be good.
Now, before I go, this old woman still has a few things she needs to get off her chest at you, so here goes:
Don't be like me, and live with regrets Charlie. Do something about it! You deserve happiness. And I feel in someway responsible for not letting you have that. That one person, that particular someone who got away. That may well be part my fault for warning you off her in the first place. But, I'll admit I thought it was for the best at the time. You know who I'm talking about Charlie. That silly young girl you couldn't take your eyes off, nor bare to let anyone hurt her either. Duffy. Go and find her. Tell her how you feel, how you've always felt. She may surprise you. Do it for this old woman. Go to Duffy Charlie, go to her. For me. She is the only one who I know you can be happy with. Don't wait any longer Charlie, life is too short. Be happy, because I know she has always felt the same way about you too!
“She, she, she knew?! All this time, she knew!” Charlie exclaimed, as tears ran down his cheeks.
“Um, she what?” Duffy asked him, confused by his reaction.
“About us! She knew all along, that bloody woman! I’ll, I’ll...” Charlie exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief, he handed Duffy the letter.
“What do you mean she knew?” Duffy asked, and began to read.
She saw Charlie was pacing, and had rubbed the back of his neck on more than one occasion.
As Duffy finished reading the letter, she shook her head in disbelief at him, and began to giggle.
Charlie turned and frowned at her.
“What's so funny?” He asked her confused.
“Give me 5 minutes, I'll be right back.” Duffy explained, as she handed him the letter, as she disappeared upstairs.
“Duffy, um.” Charlie stood confused, and simply reread the letter in his hands, shaking his head in disbelief.
Duffy returned eventually, and handed him the letter she was carrying.
“I knew I had it somewhere, read it. Go on, read it.” She said, with a grin on her face.
“Is this?” Charlie frowned, but recognised the writing on the envelope.
“My letter from Megan.” Duffy shook her head at him and smirked.
Charlie opened it, and began to read.
If you're reading this, then you'll have already heard. I've passed on, but, in my own way. I had to go, I couldn't take it anymore. But, please, what ever you heard, don't think bad of me. It was the only way. The only way. Don't, if you find out, hate anyone for this, it was my choice, and mine alone. He did what I asked of him, and that is that. God is my judge now, so no one should be blamed but me.
Now, I know it has been too long, far too long for me to make any judgement on your life now. I hope the boys are well, they'll be men now. Where have those years gone? You were once a young girl to me, not a mother of grown men. But, time passes. Life goes on. But, even though we haven't seen each other in years, I do hope our telephone conversations have been comforting, like they have been to me. You were always like a daughter to me Duffy, and I will always think of you as such. Whether you are a grown woman now or not. You may be living it up in New Zealand, but, this old woman still hopes you are well, and happy. Please enjoy your life, by God you deserve it my pet. But, for goodness sake, if you need a good telling off for anything, don't you for once think that I won't come down there myself and do it! Coz you know I will! But, most of all my dear girl, be happy, be happy. That's what life is all about. Live life to the full, for me.
Now, there is something I want to tell you, whether it is what you want to hear or not, here goes:
If you are happy, good. If Ryan makes you happy, good. If the boys are happy, good. But, don't live with regrets my dear girl, not like I have done. And I do know there is one regret you have. And that regret, I fear is part my fault too. It is a someone, rather than a something. I shouldn't have got involved, but, I did think it was for the best at the time. So please forgive me. I know how you felt about him, how you have always felt about him. And I’m sorry for doubting it, I truly am. So, if that regret is still something you need to act upon, then please do. I know that he is the only one that will make you truly happy. So go to him Duffy, go to Charlie. When you know there is nothing else in this world stopping you, nothing else that you want or need. Because, dear girl. He needs you too. Life is too short. Be happy. Live well. And don’t regret a damn thing!
“You mean she told you...she told you to come back, to me?” Charlie exclaimed in shock, as he turned to look at her.
“You, she, um...You never told me.” He added.
“I did Charlie, I did.” She answered him, as she grasped his arm, and gently rubbed it with her thumb.
“I needed you Charlie, I used to look at our photo when I was alone, and upset. You are the only one I wanted, the only one I needed. I regretted leaving you Charlie. And she knew that. She always knew that. I left when I knew I could, when the boys didn't need me. When I could be selfish, and be with you.” Duffy replied, as she rubbed his arm with her thumb more.
“I didn't know, I never, I...if I'd just read the letter...if I just...” He explained, stuttering, and getting emotional, as tears filled his eyes.
“Don't Charlie, don't. No regrets, none ok. We're together now.” She said, as she reached up and gently caressed his cheek.
“But, all those years, all of them, we could have been together, we could have had more time...” He said, as a tear escaped down his cheek.
“We’re together now darling, that's all that matters.” She said, as she wiped away his tear, and gently kissed his lips.
He sighed as he put his arms around her waist, and deepened their kiss. After a few moments, he released her lips, and gently rested his forehead on hers.
“I'm sorry, I’m so sorry.” He said, as he tightened his grip on her waist.
“Shhhh, shhh.” She soothed him, rubbing his back.
“I love you Charlie, that's all that matters.” She said, as she hugged him to her.
“I love you too.” He replied, as he buried his head into her shoulder and gently sobbed, his emotions getting the better of him.
They stood in their embrace, emotions overwhelming them. In each other's arms, where they should be. No matter how long it took them, the wise words of an old friend brought them together, at last.
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