"We walked the pier and back again
It was the most scared I've ever been
You held my hand until the end

And I love you" ~Someday We'll Linger in the Sun - Gaelynn Lea

30 October 1967, London

"I still can't believe you forgot your money AND your passport" Charli laughed as she, Paul and Mal settled into their seats on the plane.
"Well, somebody kept me out late last night," Paul smirked.
"Hey! That wasn't my fault" Charli defended herself "YOU insisted on taking me and Jenny out to celebrate us gettin' published, as I recall...I suggested we wait until after France"

Mal shook his head and laughed.

"We're just lucky they let ya' through customs based on who you are," Mal said. Much as their trip to France this time wasn't a romantic trip, Charli had been excited and enjoyed time with Mal as well.
"It will be nice to be in France again," she smiled looking out the window.
"Sorry it's such a short trip, kitten," Paul apologised "It might be a little boring for ya's, to be honest, but I'm happy you're coming along"
"Don't be silly!" Charli smiled "I brought me art supplies, didn't I?"
She indicated the satchel she'd brought as a carry-on. "From what you've been telling me, it'll be a good chance to work on some landscapes"

"How does it feel knowin' you'll have a book published in time for Christmas?" Mal asked Charli.
"Terrifying!" she laughed "I just hope it does well...or at the very least is understood...but I'm a little relieved I can work on art for art's sake for the time being"
"I'm sure it's going to be fine," Mal smiled "Yer very brave for writin' what you did"
"Not really...I just drew it...Jenny wrote it.." Charli said shyly.
"Nonsense!" Paul said "Yer brilliant luv"
"Fuck sakes," Charli laughed "Stop embarassin' me, both of ya's"

**

"Much as I enjoy spendin' time with Mal and Aubrey is lovely," Charli said as her arms went around Paul "I'm glad we've got our own hotel room"

Paul set his bag down as his arms went around her and pulled her close.
"Of course we have our own room," he said before kissing her "You really think I'd bring ya' here only to share a room with 3 lads? I want ya's all to meself"

Paul kissed her deeply, his hands wandering below her waist as Charli's fingers ran through his hair.

There was a knock at the door.

"Paul," Mal called "We're goin' for dinner if the two of ya's would like to join us"

"We probably should.." Charli laughed softly, barely breaking away from his kiss. "Considering someone forgot his money"
"You'll never let me live that down, will ya'?" He laughed softly.
"Of course not. We can have plenty of time to ourselves after dinner," she smiled up at him. "Plus don't we have to be up at some ridiculous hour for yer filming?"
"That's why I'd rather stay in right now and skip dinner" Paul laughed.
"Trust me," Charli said "We can make time for that before an early sleep, but I'm bloody starving!"

There was another knock at the door.

"Yeah Mal," Paul called "Be there in a mo"

**

"Come on luv," Paul urged "I know it's early, but we've got a taxi comin'"
"3:30 isn't early" Charli yawned covering her head with the covers "It's bloody ridiculous!"

Paul laughed slightly. He pulled the covers back.

"I probably look like hell too," Charli said opening one eye.
"Nah, yer still gorgeous luv," Paul smiled brushing her fringe away from her face.
"Yer biased," she laughed before he kissed her.
"Right, if ya' go doin' that we'll never catch this bloody sunset ya' need to" Charli laughed "Let me brush my teeth and get dressed!"

After an hour taxi drive, they were in the mountains of Nice just as the sun was about to rise, Mal and Aubrey worked to unload equipment from the boot quickly.

"You'll be alright while I help the lads?" Paul asked Charli.
"Go on, I'll be fine" she laughed. "You've got work to do, I'm just here on holiday luv"

He gave her a small kiss before helping Mal and Aubrey unload the camera equipment.

Charli yawned, she'd never been a morning person, let alone someone who would be up before the sun, but she couldn't deny she was looking forward to seeing the mountains at sunrise.
While Paul gave directions to Aubrey, she sat on the ground out of the way and began organising her art supplies.

Much of the morning had been spent overlooking the mountains, Paul giving random directions of what he planned to do and how he wanted it filmed. Charli laughed to herself and shook her head slightly after watching Paul dance about before returning to her artwork. She had captured him in silhouette against the sunrise, she'd sketched quickly and was now refining her work. She'd also painted the scenery and trees nearby.

"What'd ya' think luv?" Paul laughed as he nearly fell over from spinning around.
"I think yer going to fall on yer face if ya' keep that up" she teased.

He walked the short distance to her and sat down to regain himself.

"It's tricky," he admitted "I don't have the clapper we normally use, so I think my mimin' may be out of sync."
"Well, the dancin' has been entertaining," Charli said with a mischievous smile.

Paul laughed softly.

"What have you been working on then?" he asked eagerly looking at her sketch pad.
"Never you mind!" she laughed. She'd planned on surprising him with the final piece of his silhouette once it was finished. Luckily, at that moment she had been working on painting a butterfly she'd seen land nearby.

"Ready, Macca?" Mal asked.

"Sorry luv," Paul apologised "Back to work"

August 1957, Liverpool

It was a perfect summer afternoon, Paul made his way down the street to Charli's home. He was looking forward to the day he, Jenny and Charli had planned, but he felt himself looking forward to just spending more time with Charli lately.

It wasn't long before he arrived on the McLeod's doorstep, he knocked hoping she would answer rather than her parents.

"Paulie!" Charli said eagerly as she opened the door "'bout time ya' showed up"
"Sorry luv," Paul grinned "Had a few chores da' needed done, ready to go?"
"Have to tell me parents," she said before leaning in to whisper "despite the fact I've told them a million times"

Paul smiled and winked at her.

"Right, come in then" she laughed as Paul stepped inside the home with her.
"Da' I'm goin' out with me friends," she said as they stood in the front room. Mr McLeod looked up from his paper as Mrs McLeod suddenly appeared as well. Both looked disapprovingly at Paul.

"I trust Jenny will be joining ya's?" Mr McLeod said raising an eyebrow.
"Of course sir," Paul said amiably "We're just on our way to get her before we grab a nosh and go to the pier"

Mrs McLeod looked to her husband, waiting to see if he approved.

"Fine," he said shortly "As long as yer home by 10, no later. Do you understand?"
"Yeah da'," Charli rolled her eyes before grabbing Paul's arm "Come on, let's go!"

"Sorry, I just wanted to leave before they changed their mind" Charli laughed as they stepped outside.
"No dinner curfew like usual?" Paul teased.
"Nah, I tol' them we'd be getting dinner," Charli shook her head "You have no idea how many bloody passages I had to read to bargain for that"

Paul laughed softly, he always found it a bit odd how her parents made her read passages to do things like hang out with her friends, she'd been the only friend he had who consistently had homework during the summer months.

"Hey!" Jenny laughed as she answered the door "Took bloody long enough"
"Blame Macca," Charli laughed.
"Some of us had chores to do!" he teased "Ready Jen?"
"Well, that's the thing..." Jenny said "Mum had to go out for a bit, so I've got to watch Simon while she's away"
"Aw, Come on Jen" Charli pouted "We've been planning our day out for ages"
"We could always hang out here until yer mum gets back" Paul suggested.
"No no, that's alright," Jenny said as Simon appeared at her side "Why don't the two of you go to the pier and I'll meet you there later?"

She picked up Simon, who hid his face in her shoulder from her friends. Charli's eyes went wide.
"Are ya' sure Jen?" Paul asked.
"Yeah, it'll be pretty dull here," she laughed "Just me and wee Simon, we're trying to get him to talk."

Simon hadn't talked like most toddlers his age and Jenny and her mother were trying to encourage him to daily.

"Mum won't be away long," Jenny continued "I'll meet ya's in an hour or so, then we can grab dinner and continue on with our night of debauchery"

Charli laughed slightly. She was nervous, she had promised her parents that Jenny would be with them, but she also was a little excited to spend more time with Paul.
"Right, we'll see you whenever yer ready" Paul nodded before they were on their way.

"Jenny," Ms Jamison said as she came down the stairs "You don't have to continue on with Simon's speech therapy...go see yer friends"
"Shhh..mum..." Jenny said quietly "I'm trying to push Charli and Paul together, this gives them some time to themselves. Isn't that right Simon?"

She tickled her little brother as he giggled wildly.

"My daughter, the matchmaker" Ms Jamison laughed.
"Yer not mad?" Jenny asked as they sat on the floor with Simon and his flashcards.
"Why would I be mad Jen?" Mrs Jamison asked.
"You know Charli's situation..." Jenny said sadly.
"I do," Ms Jamison said as she held up a card to Simon trying to get him to repeat the word 'cat' before continuing on "But I also think Charli needs the chance to be a normal teenager...and that means dating if she wants to"
"Trust me, she's got a bit of a crush on Paul," Jenny laughed before holding up another one of Simon's cards "The feeling is mutual with him"

"Hold on luv," Paul said as he and Charli made their way to the pier "fancy some ice cream?"
He knew she'd be nervous with their change of plans and figured it might help.

"Yeah," Charli smiled "That would be great!"
Charli seemed to relax after ice cream and conversation before they sat together on the pier. They had run up and down the length of the pier after she'd stolen Paul's jacket, much to the annoyance of others.

"So what is it with yer parents luv?" Paul asked after a while.
"How do ya' mean?" Charli cocked her head.
"I mean, why do they make ya's do yer passages just for a night out with friends?" Paul asked "It's just me and Jen"
"Ah that," Charli scoffed "Well, obviously because I'm a girl...I'm wicked. If I'm not careful and pure, I might tempt the boys...careful, you might be me next victim"

She laughed as she made a claw-like gesture with her hands.

"And you and Jen, well, yer just there to lead me down that path of wickedness.." Charli said "Honestly, I'd always been too scare-I mean, nervous- to question it really...I mean, I do their silly homework projects, but I'm not goin' to be their perfect little dolly anymore"
"I'm glad," Paul smiled. Charli blushed slightly.

They were silent a moment, Paul reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette. As he was lighting it, Charli dug in her own jacket.

"Shite.." she sighed finding nothing but an empty packet in her pocket.
"What's wrong luv?" Paul asked.
"I'm out..." she pouted "You have a spare?"
"Sorry, last one" he apologised.
"If you were really my friend, you'd let me have it" Charli bargained.
"Is that so?" he laughed "What makes you think I'd do that?"
"Because... I'm one of your best mates" she pouted.
"That may be, but--hey!" Paul sputtered as she lunged to grab his last cigarette, he held it up high above his head laughing. Charli reached over him still trying to grab it from his hand, he put an arm around her waist to move her away and was suddenly quiet. In that small moment, he somehow knew she was going to be a part of his life for a long time, at least he wanted her to be.

"Bloody hell!" Jenny laughed as she arrived "I leave you two alone for a while and yer practically snogging in front of me"
"We weren't snogging," Charli said embarrassed.
"No," Paul laughed "Someone was trying to steal me last ciggie"
"It wouldn't be a problem if you'd just let me have the bloody thing," Charli teased.
"Alright, fine" Paul rolled his eyes, holding it out for her to have a smoke.

Jenny shook her head at him and smirked, he just winked back.

*

31 October 1967, France

It was much later in the day, that afternoon they had filmed a few scenes in the market and around Nice before returning to the mountainside. Charli sat, with her sketchbook watching the sunset, she shivered slightly in the autumn evening air.

"You know," Paul said sitting behind her "You still haven't shown me your art from today"
Charli smiled as she leaned back against him and the large black coat he'd worn that day wrapped around her as he held her closer.
"Just waiting for the right moment," she said.
"No time like the present," Paul said nuzzling against her neck.
"I suppose yer right," Charli laughed softly. She flipped to the silhouette of Paul she'd done against a background of ember and soft yellows of the sunrise.

"Bloody hell luv," Paul said happily.
"It's nothin' really," Charli shrugged, snuggling into him more. "I just saw an opportune moment and I had to capture it"
"I'm glad you did," he smiled "I love this, really"
Charli smiled to herself.
They sat in silence a moment. Paul's mind wondered to the date, he'd been busy enough through the day, but was reminded of the day of his mother's death and when Charli was there for him.

"How've you been doin' today?" Charli asked, shaking him from his thoughts.
"Pardon?" Paul asked.
"I mean, I know the 31st isn't the easiest day for ya's," She explained "Have you been alright?"
"I'm alright luv," he smiled "It helps that you're with me"

The sun had set lower, it was nearly dark.

"Hold on a mo," Paul said standing up, he wrapped the coat around Charli "Just going to help Mal organise everything before we go back to the hotel"
"I'll be alright here," Charli said content to continue watching the sunset.

Paul had made his way to Mal, lost in thought.

"We're all packed up, Macca," Mal said amiably "Might want to let Charli know"
"In a moment," Paul said, he watched Charli another moment before turning to Mal.
"Mal," he began "When we get back to London, I need you to find me the best jeweller ya' can"
"Of course lad," Mal smiled. "Any particular speciality?"
"Yeah," Paul said nervously as he turned back to watch Charli "I need a ring"

Mal nodded knowingly as Paul made his way back to Charli.

"Ready to go, luv?" Paul asked smiling at Charli as he offered her a hand.
Charli looked up at him, before grasping his hand and smiling.
"Of course," she said as he helped her to her feet. As she stood up, Paul pulled her into a warm embrace.
"What was that for?" she smirked just as they pulled away from each other slightly.
"No reason," Paul smiled before lacing his fingers in hers as they made their way to the taxi.

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A/N:  So, I keep coming up with ideas for these one-shots.  As I've mentioned a couple times, these are either little ideas of full-on chapters I couldn't quite fit into the main story.  This was a chapter idea that I couldn't quite figure out where it needed to go until recently.  Anyway, thank you as always for the follows, likes and comments (on the main story...hoping this gains a wee bit of momentum as well ;) ).

Chapter song:

https://youtu.be/9IM89LeMezA

I recently discovered this song and HAD to work it in, it's too lovely not too.  

Note: the chapter image, was a typography and vector project I did for a course...and the illustration of Charli's parents is part of the art I've been adding throughout the one-shots and the main story (figured I needed to give an idea of who the monsters were)