I don't think I just do. I slip on my crocs and head outside. I go to the one place I know Darren wouldn't want me to be. Hell, I don't want to be here but it seems like unless this all gets nipped in the bud right now we will always have a problem. I knock on the door, remembering not to bang just in case their kids are sleeping.

Chase opens the door with a surprised look on his face. "Alsie, what are you doing here? Everything okay?"

I nod my head. "Is Charlotte in?"

He looks like he's contemplating what to say. But Charlotte comes to the door asking who it is. A slow smile spreads across her face but doesn't reach her eyes. If anything she looks at me cautiously. Chase excuses himself back inside.

"Alsie, would you like to come in?" She offers.

"No." I try to keep my anger at bay. "I would like for you to come to Darren's house for a moment. Is that okay?"

"Uh," she looks behind her. "I guess I can. Let me put some shoes on."

I just want this to end. I don't like where this is all headed. Charlotte has been with me since the beginning of my pregnancy, she's been with me through everything. She is the godmother to my unborn child. I just want this to be fixed tonight. I don't want her to leave Croakington Estate because of me. Her leaving isn't going to help one bit. I just fucking know it.

We walk back to Darren's house in silence. Entering the house I thought I would have to call Darren downstairs but he is back with his cell phone to his ear. He quickly ends the call and looks at me with an annoyed expression.

"What are you thinking?" He snaps and I'm just at my own breaking point with him. "Charles I'm sorry you had to come over here for nothing."

"Darren—"

"No she needs to be here because we are ending this," I gesture at all of us, cutting off Charlotte. "Whatever this is tonight."

"There is nothing to end." Darren looks bewildered.

"No Darren I think there is. Be honest with me, do you have feelings for Charlotte that are more than friendly?"

"Whoa, Alsie you got the wrong idea here." Charlotte's eyes widen. "I've never seen Darren as anything other than a brother. I would never do something like that to Chase."

"I know. But Darren here needs to own up to the fact that he secretly has feelings for you. I've never seen a man so worked up over someone like this unless there were feelings involved. But you aren't in the clear Charlotte. I heard you're leaving here, moving your family to another part of town. Do you know what that is doing to me? For all, I know Darren and the other guys probably hate me." I pace back and forth. "You think removing yourself from here is helping but it's making everything worse. It's like you're running away from this problem."

"Darren what did you tell her? What the hell is going on?" Charlotte questions and I roll my eyes. Is she really that fucking oblivious to what is going on? Darren has feelings for her.

"Just tell her Darren! Tell her the fucking truth!" I snap. Throwing the vase at no one in particular.

"What do you want to hear? Yes, I have feelings for Charlotte. Because I do as a sister. Alsie, Charles is the only woman I trust after what your sister did to me. I don't know if I can fully open myself to anyone let alone another Alexander. How do I know you won't do the same thing your sister did?" Darren runs his fingers through his hair.

"So why are you leaving then Charlotte? Hmm?" I turn my attention to her ignoring Darren. He keeps comparing me to Selena and it's pissing me off. Charlotte's hands are balled into fists and I watch as she inhales and exhales slowly.

"Charles are you okay?" Darren's voice is now laced with concern. "Let me get you some water." He says walking off. Go fucking figure.

"I'm leaving because of this," Charlotte whispers once Darren walks out of earshot. "I'm leaving because he is too dependent on me."

"No, that's not going to help the situation. It not going to help him or me. You leaving is only going to make matters worse." Why can't she see that?

"So what? You want me to stay and have him look for me every time you two get into? No, I don't want that. I have a family and my own life." Charlotte shakes her head. "If I'm gone he would—"

"He would only resent me because you left. Let him come to you but send him back to me. That's what you do." Why do I feel like this is going in one ear and out the other with her?

Darren walks back in handing Charlotte the bottle of water. "Drink." I don't believe his feelings for her are just platonic. It just can't be.

"Darren, come have a seat with me." Charlotte walks into the living room taking a seat on the couch, Darren follows no questions asked. "What is really going on with you? Be honest."

He looks at me and then at Charlotte. His answer makes my heart drop and I feel like nothing I do would help make this relationship work. He has his mind made up about it.

"What do you mean you don't trust nor love her?" Charlotte looks at me with pity and then back to Darren. "She is the mother of your child."

"And also an Alexander. I put all my trust into Selena—"

"She isn't Selena. She is Alsie, someone who genuinely cares for you. She even knocked on my door after 9 pm, to clear the air. To make sure you two have a healthy and happy relationship. She is tearing me a new because she loves you and wants this to work."

"What's wrong with that? 9 pm I mean." No one has told me about not knocking on her door after that time. Or did she tell me and I just forgot? Damn, I probably just forgot.

"It's when I put the girls down to bed. Bedtime stories and all that jazz. But it's okay Chase can handle it for tonight." She smiles at me and this time it reaches her eyes. "I'm sorry you're going through this Alsie and I didn't think me leaving would cause such a huge problem for you."

"Do you ever think before running away?" Darren mumbles. Charlotte ignores him.

"I have an extra room at my place if you want to get away from Darren for a while." She offers.

"I thought you were leaving tomorrow?" Darren questions. Charlotte looks at him and then back to me.

"She's right, it's better to stay and fix everything than leave. If anything Alsie needs me more than ever." She stands up. "Do you need to pack a bag or something?"

"She's not leaving." Darren raises his voice and Charlotte cuts her eyes at him. "I mean she can't leave. She's with child."

"She can't stay here Darren. Alsie do you mind giving us some privacy real quick. Maybe go pack a bag or two." Charlotte says rather than ask. I nod my head walking off but hiding in the corner outside the leaving room. I'm not stupid to leave them alone to talk about God knows what.

"Darren, have you lost your fucking mind? She isn't Selena. Alsie is a good girl. Me leaving is to help you open up and trust her. I can't be the only woman in your life anymore. You need to be in a romantic relationship it's time to stop living in the past. Darren, you're causing problems not only within your relationship but in my marriage now too. Chase loves you as a brother as does I, but it does look like you love me more than a sister."

"I'm sorry for causing a problem in your marriage. I just—How can I not live in the past. Even after Selena women still did me wrong one way or another. Yet you never betrayed me." So this is his problem. He is infatuated with Charlotte's loyalty to him.

"And Alsie won't either. You just have to trust her. And why would you say you don't love her? You told me yourself that you love her. What are you thinking? Do you want her to leave you? She is young, beautiful, and smart, there are plenty of men out there that would want to be with her. You have to stop this."

There is a pregnant pause before Darren starts speaking. "If I get hurt again. I'm leaving for good this time."

"Darren don't speak like that." Charlotte rushes out. "Alsie won't hurt you, but you're the one hurting her and that baby. For crying out loud Darren you have this girl thinking we are having an affair. And what did you tell her about me leaving? Why does everyone think I'm running away. For once I'm simply putting my family first. Didn't Chase tell you guys—of course not. Because you would have known that our marriage was starting to get rocky all thanks to all of us being too codependent on one another."

"I will talk to Chase and apologize. I really didn't know."

"No, it's okay. One day soon I and all of you guys are going to have a sit-down and talk about boundaries. I think we should have done this after I had the twins. Just trust in Alise. She isn't Selena. I've spent months with her and know she isn't like that--they're two different people."

"But what if you're wrong?"

"I'm not, but I think it's best for Alsie to leave here for a while. You need counseling Darren. Holding onto the past is hurting you mentally and emotionally." She pauses. "Look, don't talk to Chase about it. He and I are good now, just as long as you do right by Alsie..."

Not wanting to hear anymore. I go upstairs to pack my bags. All of them. I send Cassie a text message letting her know I'm moving back in tomorrow morning. Darren does need counseling and then maybe just maybe he and I could start a relationship. Maybe it's really Darren and Selena who really need to talk. Their relationship is what's the cause of all of this. I just don't want to be a part of his downward spiral.