A/N: mention of sexual assault, Ben Hope

Charlie wasn't the one to find the notification on his phone, Nick was. Charlie was in the shower humming as Nick hung out on Charlie's bed.

Nick was playing a game on Charlie's phone while his charged. "Babe, you got an email!" Nick called over to his boyfriend. He didn't want to go through Charlie's phone without his permission.

"You can check it!!" Charlie called back as he began to wash his hair. He had nothing to hide from Nick. He would let Nick go through his whole phone for all he cared.

Nick clicked the gmail app, he was expecting the email to be some junk or something from Thurman. But he froze, his jaw clenched as he read the name of who sent the email.

[email protected]

Nick took a deep breath, trying hard not to overreact.
Maybe it was an accidental send. Or a glitch, it had to be a glitch. Ben hadn't talked to Charlie in over two years after Nick yanked Ben away from Charlie in the music room.

Nick set the phone aside, he had to wait for Charlie to read this email for sure. Charlie had to make the decision if he even wanted to.

"Who was the email from?" Charlie asked as he walked out of the shower. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, a small smile appeared at the sight of Nick.

Charlie's hair was damp and fell onto his forehead. His smile faded as he saw how Nick was, clenching his jaw and holding Charlie's phone tightly.

"Did someone die?" Charlie asked the first thought that came to mind.

This caused Nick to laugh and shake his head. "No, nobody died." He assured. He handed Charlie his phone back.

"So, who was the email from then?" Charlie whined, getting impatient. He sat besides Nick, adjusting his towel to make sure it stayed around his waist.

Nick couldn't help but blush at his boyfriend only in a towel. how could he not? Okay, he had to get back on track.

"Ben." Nick managed out.

Tension and silence flooded through the room.

Charlie went quiet, clicking the gmail app in disbelief as he saw Ben's name appear in his in box.

He swore he blocked Ben on everything. This couldn't be happening. Charlie's face went pale as he saw Nick's expression.

Oh god, was Nick mad at him?

"I swear this is the first time I've heard from Ben in two years. I-I haven't messaged him, I-I blocked him I thought I did!!! I don't even know how he got my e-email in the first place!!!!" Charlie rambled out, pulling his hair in frustration as anxiety rose in his chest.

Nick scooted closer to Charlie and stopped him from pulling his hair. He held both of his Boyfriend's hands onto his lap, to show he wasn't mad and to provide some comfort.

"I'm not mad." Nick assured, rubbing Charlie's knuckles to try to soothe his anxiety.

Charlie took a deep breath and nodded in reply. He was trying to comprehend what was going on.

Did Ben really email him, was this all a dream?

"Do you want me to read you the email?" Nick asked, not knowing if Charlie wanted to hear/read it or not.

Charlie nodded, he fiddled with Nick's hand anxiously. "Y-yes, yeah. that would be a good idea."

Nick scanned it over before beginning to read it out loud.

From:
[email protected]
To: [email protected]

Dear Charlie,
I know you blocked me on everything...But I wanted to try to reach out to you.
I don't like how we ended us. It wasn't fair of me to do what I did.
I was in the wrong. I don't deserve you to forgive me, but I would like some closure.
I can't stop thinking about the situation. it runs in my mind over and over and I want it to stop.
Please consider replying to this email.
Or we can even try to meet up to talk things over.
Please?
From, Ben.

Nick took a deep breath as he finished reading the email. He glanced over at Charlie who was staring off into space, probably thinking if he should reply or not.

"Char?" Nick asked in a soft voice, poking his shoulder to get him out of his thoughts he usually got trapped in.

Charlie looked up at his boyfriend, he had tears in his eyes. Hearing Ben's name brought back flashes of what happened two years ago.

Charlie had stopped thinking about the harassment for two years, now it was all coming back. He was so mentally exhausted.

Nick pulled Charlie into a tight hug. Charlie melted into Nick's arms and hid in his shoulder, trying to untense.

"Do you want to reply? Or we can just delete the email and forget this ever happened." Nick offered as he rubbed Charlie's back trying to give him the best comfort he could provide in this situation.

"I want to reply." Charlie leaned into Nick.

Nick looked at Charlie in surprise, but nodded. He gave Charlie his phone back. He was going to support him no matter what he decides to do.

Nick personally didn't think Ben even deserved a response, he didn't even apologize in the email for the harassment! Charlie was to kind and pure for this world.
He didn't deserve any of what happened to him to years ago with Ben. Charlie probably just wanted closure, and Nick understood that.

To: [email protected]
From: Charlie.spring@gmail:com

Yes,
You don't deserve me to forgive you. Do you realize how much trauma you caused me? You don't care enough to even apologize in your email.
I had to go through so much therapy and meds to get over the Assault. You just want me to forgive you.
Yes, You ASSAULTED me. I don't think you realize that. I said no and you still did what you did. I don't want to think about what could have happened if Nick wasn't there to stop it.
It was nice of you to try to reach out to get some closure.
But, I'm never going to forgive you for what you did to me.
I don't have to. I don't owe that to you. I give you the closure you need to get over this by replying to this email at least, but I don't want to meet up with you or talk to you again.
From,
Charlie

Charlie took a deep breath, letting the tears fall down his cheeks that he was trying to hold in. He leaned back more into Nick's arms, beginning to cry as he hit the button sent.

Nick pulled Charlie even closer if that was possible. He rocked his boyfriend gently as he began to cry. Nick kissed Charlie's forehead, rubbed his back, reminding him to take deep breaths to calm down.

Charlie clung onto Nick and hid in his neck. "That felt good to do." He said softly, after a couple minutes of silence.

Nick nodded with a soft smile. "Oh yeah?" He asked as he continued to hold him as close as possible.

"Yeah. It felt good to finally stand up for myself." Charlie looked up at Nick, though his eyes were red and puffy from tears he was smiling almost relived.

Nick smiled back and kissed him deeply. "I'm so proud of you Charlie."

Charlie leaned back into Nick and fiddled with his shirt that was now wet from his tears. He felt embarrassed by that but knew Nick didn't mind.

"I don't think...I even thanked you for saving me that day." Charlie realized with big eyes. He sat up and faced Nick "you saved me from Ben."

Nick grabbed Charlie's hands "You don't ever have to thank me for that Charlie. I don't think you realize how important to me you are. I don't know what I'd do without you. I'd save you again if I had to without a second thought." He rambled out. Charlie smiled adoringly at his boyfriend and kissed Nick in return.

"I'd save you too."