Wintumn through Mialotte's eyes

"Charlotte?" Mia asked, placing the phone on her pillow. She had been laying in bed reading, and was delighted to be brought away from the gothic thriller by the dulcet ringing of the phone. "I wasn't expecting a call from you today. Missing me already?" A light smirk crossed the redhead's face, pulling an unamused look in response from her girlfriend.

"Sorry, I know. Are you busy?"

"Not if the alternative is talking to you, sweetheart. What's up?" Mia lay on her front, propping herself up on her elbows. Charlotte was momentarily distracted from her stream of thought when she realised that Mia was sporting a skimpy bikini underneath a near see-through cover-up.

"Okay, so, I didn't want to say anything when I saw you, because I wasn't sure, but now I am, and, oh God, Mia," Charlotte took a deep breath, wondering how the news would be received.

"Go on," Mia urged.

"It's Autumn. She's pregnant." Mia's face became wholly unreadable, the smirk falling entirely, her eyes almost looking through the phone. "Mia? I mean, I'm not 100%, and Autumn hasn't said anything, nor has Winter, but I just.- I don't know - I can tell." Silence met her again. "I mean, I might be wrong, I suppose, but every time anyone comes near her, she brings a hand down to cover her tummy, and she isn't physical with parents anymore." Mia raised an eyebrow. Physical? "Oh God, no, not physical in a weird way. Just, you know, she doesn't fight them anymore. She uses her words, and it's just, I don't know. It's abnormal behaviour for her. Or at least, for what I know of her."

"Does Reecey know?" It was barely audible.

"No, maybe, I don't know. I'm not even supposed to know. No one's told me anything. I'm probably wrong, Mia, don't worry about it, sorry." Charlotte immediately felt awful, but she'd known she couldn't keep it in much longer without imploding, and Mia seemed to be the safest person to tell.

"Hmm," Mia struggled to arrange her words, eventually blurting "Well done to Winter for knocking her up. God, who'd have thought Autumn Knight would be settling down, and with a man, no less. How far along is she?" Charlotte smiled, relieved beyond words.

"I don't know. I'd assume about six weeks? Maybe a little more. She's not showing, though. I still could be wrong, Mimi." Mia's eyes lit up at the nickname. No one other than her dad had ever called her Mimi. Although it was strange at first to hear it fall from her girlfriend's mouth - two full octaves higher than the last time she had heard the nickname - she had grown fond of it, though she would have punted anyone else over the head had they used the name for her.

"You're not wrong, sweetheart. She's pregnant. Autumn doesn't change that quickly unless it's love. She changed for Winter, and the only thing from that day forth that she would change for would be her child. Oh, my God. I cannot believe it. She's going to be such a good mum, Char. God." Mia was clearly still reeling from the news. Charlotte placed the phone on the counter-top as she started buttering bread for a sandwich. The kids were at their dad's, and she really couldn't be bothered to cook just for herself.

"I know, and Winter will make a wonderful father." Mia paused for a moment at that comment.

"Sweetheart?" Charlotte hummed in response, eyes meeting Mia's through the phone. "Can you tell me about him? I want to know everything."

And so she did. Charlotte could tell how deeply Mia still cared about Autumn, watching a small smile creep onto her lips as Charlotte told her how they had hooked up at halloween; how they had all spent Christmas together at Marjorie's; how gentle Winter was with her; how much Autumn put up a front in public that Winter's softer nature didn't make her melt, even though Charlotte could tell that Winter's gentility was such a huge draw for Autumn; how he'd recently taken to placing a hand on the small of her back when he thought no one would notice to support her; how his hand would graze her arm when she got annoyed to ground her; how she would shyly snake an arm around his waist when she'd had one too many glasses of wine; how he'd take her on dates weekly; how he'd cook for her every day (this brought a snicker and a "thank god. Don't think he'd want her to have his baby if he had to suffer through her cooking every night"); how poorly the pair had hidden their relationship, because they were just so infatuated with one another that no one could miss it; how they'd share little glances every now and again, and seemingly hold a whole conversation just with a look; how he was the perfect gentleman; and how Autumn now believed in soulmates because of him (that was followed by a "don't tell anyone I told you. Carly told me, and she was under the impression that Autumn would murder her if she told anyone, but said it was 'too cute not to', and I do agree").

There was a moment of silence after Charlotte finished. Mia reflected on all she had said, a small smile decorating her lips.

"So, he's her missing piece then?"

"Yeah, separately, you can never understand how they'd fit together, but when they're put together, and the picture is shown - well, you'd never know how they functioned without one another. They really complete each other. She's so happy, Mia."

"Good. She deserves the world." Charlotte smiled at this. "Don't tell anyone I said that, sweetheart."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

A/N: Charlotte seeing so much more than she lets on is canon for me icl