The Wharf Reunion.
A Charlie/Joey story; 3 months after Joey's departure.
As the boat glided around the choppy head, Joey became anxious. It had been three long, lonely months at sea. Where normally the sea calmed her, this time was different. Charlie had never left her thoughts; night and day her head had raged with visions of their time together, her heart still leapt when she remembered her soft sweet lips, butterflies in her stomach had never lessened and today was the day Joey would land back in Summer Bay.
With conflicting emotions; she had dreamed of this day for so long, yet now it was here, she felt she needed more time, she takes in the curve of the all to familiar Bay from the deck of the boat and reluctantly heads down below to pack her bags and get ready to face land again.
For Charlie the previous three months had been hell. She had never forgiven herself, and since Joey left she had punished herself with excruciating runs, had barely eaten and thrown herself into her work. She was tortured by the love she felt she had lost.
Now she was at the wharf, waiting in her car, she had already been there an hour. She, of course, had known for three months when Joey's boat was due back, just as she knew that she could not have stayed away today even if she had wanted too.
Charlie did not expect Joey to take her back, she had broken her heart; both their hearts - again; but she had to tell her how sorry she was, how sick she felt inside, how much she didn't want to hurt her, how she wished she could take it all back.
Charlie spotted the boat straight away, it was bouncing through the heads, headed purposefully towards her.
Sitting there, she wondered if she would actually get out of the car, she was trembling with nerves. The anticipation may just get the better of her, she thought. Only as she watched some of the crew secure the boat did she realize she had been holding her breath.
The crew start to disembark, there had been no sign of Joey, a fear gripped her heart as the thought of not seeing Joey screamed and raced through her body. Her heart thundering, Charlie grabbed the flowers from the passenger seat, climbed from the car and trance like stumbled toward the boat.
It appeared everyone had gone, Charlie was broken. Her world a chaotic blur racing through her mind. She had lost her. Joey had not come back to the Bay. Charlie was not prepared for the gut wrenching pain that ripped through her heart. The flowers fell from her hands and with tears streaming down her face she fell to her knees. Lost.
It was then, with sweaty palms and knots in her stomach that Joey threw her bag through the hatch and slowly climbed the stairs to the deck, not knowing what Summer Bay now held for her.
Climbing onto the deck, she let the fresh air wash over her, picking up her bag she turned to disembark, when suddenly, her world froze. She could hardly breathe.
She sees Charlie, broken and crying, flowers strewn in front of her. Joey can't move. She had wanted this, but had never let herself dream that Charlie would actually be here to meet her. Everything came flooding back. All the memories of Charlie's touch, her taste, her smell. Tears sprang to her eyes, she couldn't help it.
Joey knew she would never stop loving Charlie.
Hearing a noise, Charlie lifts her eyes, and catching her breath she sees Joey's beautiful face and her sweet, crooked smile. She has never been so in love with anyone. Charlie can't take her eyes off Joey.
Slowly rising, Charlie is acutely aware of her desire to touch her, hold her, to tell her she loves her, has always loved her and always will. They both stand transfixed, drinking in the sight of the other.
Tentatively moving towards each other; each not knowing what to expect, they stop, so close. Listening to each other breathe they are unable to take their eyes from the others face.
Charlie eventually reaches out, gently, not knowing Joey's reaction, she takes Joey's hand and choked with emotion, whispers -
'I will never hurt you again';
Joey catches her breath and without thinking, traces a finger gently down the side of Charlie's face. With only the slightest movement their lips gently brush, neither prepared for the hunger that rises within them. Pulling back, but still holding hands, they are both unprepared for the electricity that still pulsates between them, their eyes are locked on each other, hearts and minds racing, unable to unscramble the words screeching through their minds.
Simultaneously surrendering to the hunger, their lips lock; the rest of the world falls away, Charlie chokes out the words -
'I love you, I'm sorry'.
With the weight of her own body, Joey can only push Charlie against the railing, pushing on her, not able to get close enough. Unable to deny the desire and love beating within them; they kiss with uncontrolled passion........