Work Text:
"Dear Sarah,
there is a lot about you that is incredibly beautiful - and I only write 'a lot' because I still don't know everything about you yet.
How do you keep your calm and the gentleness with which you approach people?
One can only see your inner storm in your beautiful eyes. You know how beautiful your eyes are, and how valuable your gift of being able to communicate with them is. Your beauty - and by that I mean the inner and the outer -, your grace and your kindness of heart are incomparable.
You don't ask anything from people, you don't push them to anything. You gratefully accept what they are ready to give, and you give them so much more yourself.
I like to be in love with you. Being in love with you is one of the few things in my life that I will never regret. I know that you should never regret something like that, anyway. The heart wants what the heart wants. I couldn't imagine a better and more beautiful person I'd rather be in love with than you.
You should be able to see for yourself how you can make a cold room shine just because you enter and fill it with life and warmth. Your smile is always honest and comes from the heart, and the sound of your laughter warms my heart and is music to my ears.
You always find the right words. Your understanding goes further than the minds of most of the people in the world put together. You see life as it is, in its pure form. Not through rose-colored glasses and not through the eyes of a self-confident, arrogant person. You don't judge anyone.
You have retained your curiosity, your joy in life, through small moments of happiness. I wish that each of your days is filled with many small and large moments of happiness. At least mine are, because I'm lucky enough to be able to walk a part of your life together with you."
Charlie let his pen hover over the paper for a moment. He then signed it with the words "Love, Charlie", and put his pen aside before he let his eyes wander over the lines he had written once again. Aunt Miranda had been right; sometimes it was just liberating to write the unsaid from your soul. Of course, he hadn't told her excactly what or who was on his mind, but his aunt had known him long enough. She probably knew for a long time about his untold love for his colleague and best friend.
Charlie carefully folded the sheet of paper twice. He thought for a moment, then wrote "To Sarah" on it and placed the letter on the table in front of him.
No one would ever see those lines if it was up to him. But it felt good to finally get rid of something that had been burning on his soul for a long time.
Rex, who had been watching him patiently the whole time, lifted his head and pricked up his ears. Even before there was a knock, the German Shepherd was already at the door and jumping up and down for joy.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Charlie's lips. "Right buddy, Sarah is coming to pick us up. Ready for a run?"
Rex confirmed with an excited bark.
After Sarah ended her short relationship with Mike a few weeks ago, Charlie and Sarah had returned to their usual routine. They regularly went running and spent much of their free time together, just like they used to do before. To Charlie, it almost felt like Mike and Eva had never happened. To be honest, he almost wished to be able to erase both of them from his memory for good.
Opening the door for Sarah and watching Rex greet her enthusiastically made his heart warm.
His life was good the way it was at the moment. Perhaps it was better to leave some things unsaid before losing everything through a thoughtless utterance or an unrequited emotion.
About an hour later, Charlie, Sarah and Rex returned from their run.
Charlie immediately walked into the kitchen and offered Sarah something to drink, which she was only too happy to accept. Rex had already quenched his thirst and settled on his blanket. Sarah had followed Charlie and was leaning against the kitchen counter, watching her best friend fondly. She was glad that they were good with each other again and spending a lot of time together. Sarah had never told him, but she had missed him terribly while she was dating Mike. She quickly realized that she had already given her heart away, and that it would be unfair to Mike, who had been a really nice guy, to continue the relationship. She would rather remain friends with Charlie than lose him entirely.
Caught, she looked up when Charlie smiled and handed her a glass of water. "Penny for your thoughts," he teased, "Judging by the expression on your face, you have some serious issues to ponder."
She shook it off, "Nah, just thinking about, um, that I need to go grocery shopping later."
"Sure," Charlie nodded, clearly not believing her for a second. "Hey, you could have dinner with Rex and me." His blue eyes looked at her hopefully, "I still have leftovers from yesterday's lasagna, they'll easily feed the three of us."
When Rex barked promptly and looked at her with his head tilted to the side and puppy eyes that were in no way inferior to Charlie's, Sarah couldn't help but laugh, "Fine, you win. But first, I need a shower."
As it was not uncommon for them to be summoned to work at short notice or had to work through the night, Sarah always had a bag with fresh clothes in the car. So she retreated to the bathroom to get showered and dressed freshly while Charlie was already heating the lasagna in the oven. When Sarah returned a little later, now in jeans and a T-shirt, her hair still damp, Charlie also took a shower.
Sarah used the time and set the dining table. With a smile, she thought that they both already behaved like an old married couple, they had become so attuned to each other by now.
When Charlie returned, they went about the food, chatting happily about this and that. Rex's spirits were also quickly awakened by the delicious scent of lasagne and he greedily ate his share.
After not a crumb was left and the dishes were cleaned up, the humans made themselves comfortable on the couch with a bottle of beer to watch a hockey game together. As Charlie reached for the remote control, his eyes fell on the letter addressed to Sarah.
He gave Sarah a quick, scrutinizing look, but she was already caught up in the game that was in full swing on the screen. Relieved, he unobtrusively pushed a thick book, a biography of Bruce Springsteen, over the letter and then leaned back contentedly. It would be unimaginable if Sarah had discovered the letter addressed to her!
When the game ended, Charlie didn't even think about the letter he had hidden in a makeshift way. Instead, he grabbed the empty bottles and stood up, "Would you like another beer?"
Sarah looked like she would love to accept his offer, but after looking at her watch she shook her head, "Nah, it's getting late, I really should head home."
Charlie raised his eyebrows, "I don't know, I don't have a good feeling if you drive home now. What do you think, one more beer and then you just sleep in my guest room?"
Sarah thought about it for a moment and accepted Charlie's invitation with a beaming smile, "Ah, why not."
Charlie couldn't hide his satisfied grin as he went to the fridge to stock up. He loved spending his evenings with Sarah. When she was with him, he felt complete.
When he returned, however, he froze in mid-movement. Rex had apparently woken up and decided to play postman tonight. The dog had just pushed the book aside and carefully gripped the letter between his teeth. Unable to move or utter a word, Charlie watched as the German Shepherd carried the paper over to Sarah and placed it in front of her.
Surprised, Sarah looked up, "Rex, what's that? Is that for me?"
Now Charlie snapped out of his freeze, "Oh, um, no, that, uh, isn't for you..." he stuttered awkwardly.
But Sarah already held the letter in her hands. "But it says 'To Sarah'," she noted with amusement. "Do you know another Sarah?"
"I, uh, well, no..." Charlie's face had drained of all color. He stared in horror as Sarah unfolded the letter and began to read. His eyes fell on Rex, who was sitting in front of Sarah and let her stroke his head while her eyes slid over the lines. The dog looked incredibly smug, and for the first time ever Charlie felt like wringing his neck.
Not a sound could be heard, but Charlie thought he could hear his heartbeat pounding through the room.
Only after what felt like an eternity did Sarah raise her head. Water had pooled in her brown eyes as she met his gaze. "Is that true?" she asked barely audibly.
"Sarah, I didn't mean to...", Charlie started to apologize, but Sarah shook her head impatiently and interrupted him, this time much louder. "Is that true, Charlie?"
He took a deep breath. In a split second he made a decision and nodded his head. There was warmth and seriousness in his eyes when he finally answered calmly, "Yes. Yes, Sarah, every single word of it is true. I'm sorry, I never planned on telling you like that." He gave Rex a disapproving look, "Rex obviously had other plans."
Rex whined and retired to his seat, looking perfectly innocent. His work was done here, the rest was to be left to his two favourite people.
A single tear broke free and ran down Sarah's cheek, "I'm glad he did. Charlie, that's... that's the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me."
Charlie swallowed hard. It was obvious that Sarah was touched by his words. But whether she returned his feelings, he couldn't say. His heart was still beating wildly. The fear that his words might have destroyed a deep friendship for ever ran deep. So he tried again to qualify his words, "Look Sarah, you don't have to feel obligated in any way..."
But again, Sarah promptly interrupted him. "Charlie Hudson, don't you dare backtrack and destroy this moment!"
"Huh?"' It was all he could get out.
Sarah had already gotten up and taken a seat on the back of the chair close to him. Their shoulders were touching as she leaned toward him and gently cupped his face in her hands, turning it to face her. "I've waited so long for a sign, a tiny hint, from you to make sure I'm not the only one who feels this way," she whispered, locking his lips in a tender kiss. As if by themselves, his hands found their way to her hips and carefully pulled her closer until she finally sat on his lap. Her hands wandered through his hair, wrapped around his neck and pulled him even closer. They both lost themselves in that kiss that was passionate and intense, yet at the same time cautious, savoring. When they finally broke apart to catch their breath, both of their hearts were beating in the same hectic rhythm and yet a calmness had spread through them, a feeling of deep contentment at having finally arrived where they clearly belonged.
There was a teasing twinkle in her eyes as Sarah pulled away from him a tiny bit, "In case I didn't make myself clear enough: I love you, Charlie."
Relieved, he laughed and pulled her close again, "I'm glad we were able to work that out. I love you too, Sarah."