When Love Breaks Down - Chapter 30 THE END - by Maro Z

So another story comes to an end! Thank you all so much for reading this. There have been mixed reviews along the way, but I hope you all enjoy the culmination of the story. It's my longest and most detailed and has taken a lot out of me!

Saying that I have another one in the pipeline, after several requests, I am going to make the next heroine a teenager....not sure if I'll get it right, but we'll see. Still trying to work out the fine details!

Working title is - Can't buy me love In keeping with my music themed story titles!!

From the last chapter, thanks Karen for commenting, they are destined to be, aren't they?!

Justine.A - Finally together? We'll see:) Parents still 'do' things honest! :/ Your schooling sounds interesting! As do your family!! Thanks for reading this story and commenting religiously!

Kim - Ha ha! Loving the sound effects!!! Thanks for commenting throughout!

Nessa - will he choose her? He'd be mad not too!! Thanks to you too for reading, commenting!

Zee - sorry, gotta love a cliff hanger!!:) This is as soon as I could make it! Cheers for reading, commenting.

Surabhi - Rockstar Noah:D Love the comments, thanks!

Wellwisher - I know I did wonder how people would view this story. It was always meant to be a battle. I wanted Charlie to end up on top and in control. It is fiction, but there are a few bits that were bordering on true! But there you go. Thanks so much for the comments and support!!

Annie - Room 11 is the only way, isn't it?? Appreciate the support, the comments, thanks!

JBieber Lover - Ha ha! Hope you don't fall off your seat edge!! :) Thanks for commenting so often!

Klara Noel - we love old Noah! Rockstar Noah!:) And thanks for all the comments!

Lovelypalacios - it's lucky as the natural breaks seem to come at the chapter limit length (2500 words), and a little suspense is a good chapter end in my book! Thanks for comments! Have loved reading them!

Anonymous :D, I'm never that long in updating, and love the frustration that a cliffhanger leaves!! Thanks:)
=====================================================================================================================================================================
Charlie slid out of her clothes, pulling a peignoir of the thinnest most delicate material over her new rather sexy lingerie. She'd got Katie to drop a bag up to the room earlier in the day full of her 'tools of seduction' now as she gathered the flimsy garment around her body, she was starting to have second thoughts. How far could you push someone who didn't want to be pushed?

She had set the iPod up to play the tunes so carefully selected, opened the cold bottle of champagne, now ten minutes after leaving the restaurant it all seemed a little flat, a little premature... anti-climatic.

She'd thought that her plan was the right one, but then he'd admitted he was scared, that fear made him shy away from what he once had. She didn't want to think that she might be a timely and well placed diversion for him, she wanted him to want her, unconditionally, and at the first sign he'd failed to follow her, to take the bait.

Sighing, she unzipped the bag, started to refill it with massage oils, provocative foods, candles. She'd been crazy to come. As she pulled out her jeans, intending to put them and her t-shirt on before making her way home, she heard something outside. She paused craning her ears against the sounds of the night. It was a voice....and a guitar.

Pulling back the curtain she looked out, then with a gasp she covered her mouth with her hand, sat cross-legged on the veranda opposite her room was Noah, he had a very old looking guitar, lovingly cradled in his hands, and was strumming at a brisk four/four pace. As she looked up and met her eyes, he started to sing....

"You only get one chance, one time to make it work,
there really only is one perfect half for you.
Life throws up some curveballs we all have to dodge,
and sometimes I deflect them on you.
To know you, to love you, gives me chance to hurt you,
but I only hurt the one that I love....

"My love.....needs you; you're the only one,
the one that can break down the walls.
They say only one is your soul....mate, and I say I found that in you."

She was stood on the balcony, watching him intently and by the time he got to the chorus, he was looking down, watching his fingers glide over the strings, but as he glanced up his eyes met hers. He took in the emotions coursing over her face, the desire filling her eyes, the beauty of her body clad in the sheerest clothing.

"I didn't think I'd ever play this to you!" he shouted across the gap between the two halves of the building."Then we couldn't find a guitar....then it was out of tune...." His hands still played the melody; a haunting acoustic melody that she knew would be phenomenal played by a full band. "It was the turning point..."

"I know...." she smiled, "but I need this part of you Noah, I'm no cop out, no easy safe choice..."

He laughed, "Easy? You've become the most argumentative bitch I've ever known!" He spotted the shock on her face and laughed "but I LOVE arguing with you! More than I love making love to anyone else!"

She chuckled, "that's a line Fleet!"

He nodded, "was in a chick flick, you never know when a one liner will come in useful."

Shaking her head in amazement she stared at him, "you're talented Noah, and you can do so much with it!"

He nodded, "I think about it all the time, or rather her....Ruth!" Charlie was nodding; she was always amazed when they were on the same wave length. "I just never realized that I could change things with my voice, my writing."

"You can do whatever you want love, you are so driven, so talented....Now! I'm getting cold here!"

"I can tell!" he winked as she became aware of the effect of the cold on her scantily clad body, then she clamped her hands across her chest and sighed.

"Are you coming here or am I sleeping alone?"

Throwing down the guitar he jumped up and ran down the stairs, across the courtyard and into her arms, faster than he'd ever run before. As he got to her she threw her arms around his neck, jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around him tightly. With a groan he backed into her room and kicked the door closed.

Letting her slither down her body, he studied her for a second, then shook his head in amazement, "I have waited SO long for this..." With a moan he lowered his lips to hers, covering her mouth with his own.

Charlie was already lost; her heart was racing, her body tingling, heat swirling around her pelvis. His tongue was delving into her mouth, her own meeting it. She was clasped tightly against him; her sensitive breasts squashed against his hard muscular chest, his thighs possessively either side of her, enclosing her completely in an embrace. Sliding her arms up his body, she found his hair at the back of his neck and laced her fingers into it, loving the silky texture, with a slight adjustment, he slid his lips over her jaw to the soft curve of her neck, and as Charlie felt her legs weaken, she clamped his head to her needing his strength to stay on her feet.

Finally he pulled back and smiled at her, foreheads and noses touching, "you ok?" he asked, "with this?"

She nodded, "I wanted it to be so special!" she glanced over at her full bag, but he drew her chin around, meeting her eyes once again.

"We don't need anything but each other Charlie, the last few months have taught me that if nothing else."

Her breath was as erratic as his, she had SO many questions, but desire was winning the battle. Nodding, she reached for his shirt, started to pop the buttons undone, one by one. His tanned muscular chest spattered in fine hair was as she remembered it, but she gasped at the large scars over his back and stomach, the accident had really had an effect on him. Stooping, she pressed her lips to the wound, then trailed her tongue over the length of them each.

Noah's head was flung back, the combination of the sight of her paying such attention to his body coupled with the increased sensitivity of the scars meant she was touching were driving him wild. He could barely stand, his whole body throbbed in anticipation, and if he didn't lose his trousers soon, he had visions of them ripping!

Nudging her backwards, he felt her legs buckle as they encountered the mattress behind her, and with another gentle push she tumbled back on to the bed. With her hair mussed, that ridiculous robe thing flung open, not that it would cover much anyway, she looked delicious. It was all he could do to shrug off his open shirt and unbuckle his trousers. Sitting up she removed his fingers and started to push the trousers down his thighs herself, all the time peppering his skin with sexy nips, and little licks. When he collapsed beside her he was in pieces.

Smiling she shrugged off the peignoir and climbed to sit astride his almost naked body, "you ok?" Whilst there was a slight hint of sarcasm at his obvious lack of control, she was concerned; he was hardly completely recovered from his operations and the trauma of his accident.

He half smiled, "What I want to do...and what I'm physically able to do are two very different things..." he reached up to slide the straps of the black lacy bra down her arms. "But at this moment I am honestly willing to die trying!"

Grinning she reached behind her back and unclipped the bra, as it fell away he made two quick comments, the first being "Wow!", the second being, "What no tan lines?"

With a seductive wink, she collapsed on top of him kissing him furiously, and soon he found the energy he wanted as he devoured her like a starving man, his hands, his lips, his tongue .When she finally landed back against the pillows she felt thoroughly ravaged, savaged, yet loved.

She rolled to face him, and they lay together noses almost touching.

"You ok?" he asked.

Charlie nodded, "more than..."

He grinned, "it was spectacular Charl, it always was, always will be with you. I love you."

And there it was, the declaration that she knew she couldn't repeat yet, sensing her discomfort, he slid a hand between their bodies, his long fingers teasing first her nipples, then a path down her body. As his fingers investigated sliding easily between her thighs, as her pleasure started to heighten, her body open to him; he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "There's no rush Charlie, I understand!" Then with a smile he stooped and followed the path of his fingers with his mouth and that damn erotic tongue.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Noah looked edgy, Charlie watched him swipe at his forehead from the other side of the camera. To anyone else it would seem strange, he'd been interviewed by so many people, but now as he sat waiting for the cameras to start rolling, his good friend and music journalist Jonathan Speck sat opposite him smiling, reassuring him.

This was the first interview linked to the release of Soulmate, it had morphed over the months from a spark, a tune and lyrics to a huge sound, a full orchestra accompanied Ebony Smile as they had laid down the track for sale. He'd revealed the torment of the past few years to his band mates, his managers, and they'd all been stunned. No one had objected to his suggestion that the single raise money for the Huntington's Disease Association. A group that offered help, support, counseling to those suffering or living with those with HD.

After their reunion back in Spain, which had changed from one night into two. They had settled into a honeymoon period. Both were aware that things were far from perfect, but they worked hard at things. This single, the fundraising was all important to that.

Charlie turned to look at Ruth, who'd come along with them, since Spain they'd been in contact most days, she was starting to show signs of the disease, occasional movements, forgetfulness. It was heartbreaking. But the injection of Noah and Charlie's enthusiasm into the family, as well as the opportunities they were able to create meant that at least Ruth, her husband and Noah's two nephews were spending time together, making trips, enjoying the time that they had left. Ruth had started talking about a living will...about the time that she wanted to go to a clinic in Switzerland where euthanasia was legal, but it was all still raw to her family.

Charlie squeezed her hand, then they both turned to watch Noah's interview.

"So," Speck began, "we haven't seen you in a long while Noah, and the media is rife with speculation on what you've been up to!"

Noah nodded, "a small amount was fact I'm sure!"

Jonathan smiled, "I'm sure! So there was an accident, a reconciliation with your ex-wife and a new single that blasts anything else you've done out of the water!"

Noah grinned, "Where to start!" He began with the single, and why he'd chosen HD as the charity to benefit from the success of it. "I have a really brave sister Ruth, who is starting to display signs of the disease that killed my father; she is such a wonderful person who has taken this all in her stride, with grace and dignity..." he lowered his head for a moment. "But when I realized that I too may have inherited the disease, I did the cowardly thing, I distanced myself from everyone, started a downward spiral."

"Drinks? Drugs?" Speck prompted him.

Noah lifted himself from his reverie again, "drink? No. I have always had a healthy relationship with drink, but drugs yes. My kids'll watch this in the future, and I'll never feel more embarrassed nor be as low as I was for the eighteen months after I learned about the disease. I drove my wife away; lost contact with my children, and ignored Ruth and her plight, her family's needs. All because I didn't want to face up to the possibility of this hideous condition." For a second he looked straight into the camera, "what I didn't realize was that the paranoia, the mood swings, the clumsiness, weren't signs of HD, they were signs of drug dependency. Yet those symptoms only encouraged me to self destruct."

He reached for a glass of water and took a sip, "but through it all my soulmate was there chipping away at me. The accident happened just at a time when I'd started to wake up and smell the coffee. I almost died of a car accident, and yet I'd ruined my life for the fear of doing a test to see if I had a terminal illness...I saw the irony there. So once I was well I got tested, I don't deserve to be clear, not when Ruth is suffering, but I'm hoping that I can make a difference, to those affected, or living with the affected." He looked up again and there were tears in his eyes, "I am ashamed of how I've been, but I've been made to realize that I am lucky in that I'm in a position to do something about others."

Jonathan, a seasoned journo was stunned, he'd knew that Noah was edgy, that there may be something big on the cards, but this self deprecation, this insight into Noah's psyche was a headline grabber, he could see his own career moving up several notches on tha back of this expose. "So what are your plans?"

Noah smiled, "well we're consulting with lots of sufferers, caregivers, finding out what they want....we're looking at holiday homes, aids, care teams, counselors. Practical help, you know?"

Jonathan Speck nodded, "and the single?"

"It's a simple thing, about loving and losing, finding that special person, the 'once in a lifetime' one. I'm hoping that people like it, that they buy a few copies. It's a poorly known condition, and I'm hoping to see that change."

Noah looked emotionally shattered, the rest of the interview was standard life, times, music, but as the camera stopped and he shook hands with the interviewer, he's never looked so glad to leave an environment.

Behind the camera he found Charlie, and fell in to an embrace, she could feel that he was shaking, and she held him until he calmed again. Then he turned to hug his sister.

She was accompanying them to a gig that night, another charity event which had seen twenty thousand fans but tickets for an open air concert in London. And when Noah took to the stage, he was back! The energy, the passion, the talent....all still there, and encouraged by the swarth of screaming fans.

Ruth loved every minute, from meeting celebs, to watching the concert from the wings. But she was exhausted when Charlie saw her back to her hotel, her husband was there, he'd taken the two boys to watch football, a rare treat now that Ruth was starting to fail.

The after show party was in a small club overlooking the river South of the Thames. Everything was laid on. Charlie took a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter, then made small talk as she wandered around smiling to the familiar faces. Eventually she spotted Noah. His blonde, sun bleached hair was cut shorter than he's ever had it, his blue eyes were animated as he talked, she was glad that the haunted look appeared less and less, she'd started to get worried about him a few months back. In black jeans and a pale blue soft fine knit v-neck sweater, he was more than sexy; she couldn't wait until they were back at the hotel. A rare evening away from the kids meant they could have a wild night...together.

Mid conversation he glanced up and his eyes met hers, the look of pleasure on his face made her whole body tingle, warmth flooded through her. He stuttered to find the track of the conversation, but he did, briefly, before excusing himself.

In two strides he'd reached her, taken her champagne glass and laid it on a table, then taken her in his arms. His kiss was everything it should be, a promise, desire, friendship, and most of all love.

As much as he enjoyed the come down from the high of a gig, tonight he was desperate to get away. So as soon as was possible, he dragged her out into the night, and into a waiting cab.

They had a penthouse suite in a hotel overlooking Canary Wharf. The view from the balcony was second to none, and Charlie was leaning on the railings watching the lights of the City blink around her. She could hear Noah searching for something so she shouted towards him, "champagne is in the fridge!"

There were a few huffs and puffs before he appeared next to her with the open bottle and two glasses. Handing her one he sipped with a sigh.

"You're quiet tonight!" He had his back to the railings next to her and was watching her with interest.

She shrugged, "no room in the limelight with you, hey?"

When she saw his face drop in dismay, she laughed, "I'm kidding, but the fact that you care about things going back down that route is enough Noah, I promise."

"You mean that?"

She nodded, "happy with you, you were the maqn I fell in love with again tonight, I'm happy with my life. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Me neither!"

"Nothing?" she asked with a smile. His response was a nervous shrug. Laughing to herself, Charlie swaggered slowly back to the patio doors, "shame! Cos there was me about to blab!"

As she entered the bedroom she could hear him rushing after her, picking up the trail of clothes she was throwing over her shoulder.

"What do you mean?" he asked bursting into the room, then coming to a rapid stop as he saw her stood in front of him, naked except for her underwear, which as usual was matching and provocative. Her hands were linked behind her back, and the gesture was almost school like in its innocence.

"I mean I was about to answer anything you wanted to know...any maybe tell you....that I love you."

His eyes lit up, "I know you do, but I really didn't think you'd ever say it!"

Smiling she thrust her hand out from behind her back, "I bet you didn't think I'd say this either." He looked from her face, to her hand, then back to her face, the small velvet box didn't register fully until she said the words, "will you marry me again?"

In all the turbulence of the last three years, suddenly everything was serene; suddenly this was all that he wanted. The interference was gone, his one goal was obvious. Lifting her into his arms, he kissed her hard before swinging her around. She didn't really need an answer, and it was hours later when he finally said yes.
==========================================================================================================================================
Hope you enjoyed! The end is here!

Thanks for reading!

MZ.