This is a random new story idea. I can't imagine it will be very long. Ten chapters or less. But I have started watching Home and Away again since they finally broke Charlie and Angelo up for good (hooray!) and although I don't really like this whole Brax storyline, he is mildly more tolerable. So anyway, as ever, I watched and various ideas of ways to bring Joey back popped into my brain – and this is one of them. It's set somewhere between Romeo and Billy taking Morag and Roo on a fishing trip and Romeo rescuing Indi from Kieran (I haven't actually seen those episodes yet). I hope you like it! Reviews are ALWAYS welcome. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One

Romeo Smith swore in utter defeat as he continued to fail to get the Blaxland working. He had been sailing for a few years now but his general expertise weren't brilliant. While he didn't like to admit it as such, currently, he was stuck an hour away from home with no clue as to how to get moving again.

The idea had been to take the boat out, get to know it a little better, and preferably without psychotic down and outs who had just finished beating up the local pastor. He was just relieved that Morag Bellingham and Roo Stewart hadn't held that particular mistake against him and encouraged him to keep on with the business. His hope was that he would be up and running and bringing in lots of cash for Alf when he returned home from his travels.

Unfortunately, at this rate, he would be bringing in nothing. Taking a deep breath, he attempted to examine the engine again.

"You having trouble?" said a voice behind him.

Romeo turned rather abruptly and hit his head on the side of the boat. His mouth hung open a little at the vision of a stunning woman standing on the shore, eyeing him curiously. She was of average height, a slim, toned physique and hand luscious looking dark hair that tumbled over her shoulders. She had a little red beanie on her head and a bright smile on her face.

"Just some engine trouble," he said, standing up and moving closer towards her.

"Need help?" the woman offered.

She looked to be in her early twenties. Romeo thought she was gorgeous. However, he resolved to keep his hormones in check. Between Ruby Buckton and Emily Logan recently, his romantic urges had officially ruined his life. Now his beloved girlfriend, Indigo Walker was off with some horrible college farm boy. Romeo was convinced that he was trouble.

"Uh... well, it's engine trouble so I don't know if you..." he said anxiously, not wanting to offend.

"I haven't met a boat I can't fix yet," the woman replied cheerfully.

"But you're a..."

"If you say 'girl' in a derogatory manner then I will retract my offer," she told him.

Her tone was firm but she was still smiling. Romeo stuttered a little, trying to apologise.

"Do you want help?" she asked seriously.

"Yes please!" Romeo finally admitted.

Nodding, the brunette hopped on board and walked towards him, pausing to shake his hand.

"I'm Joey, by the way," she said.

"Romeo," he replied.

She laughed and asked him if he was serious.

"Well, it's not my birth name," he admitted. "But it's what I've been known as for a pretty long time."

He offered her his most charming smile. She chuckled and headed past him, ready to set to work. Eager to learn, Romeo followed and watched her examine the engine.

Next time... Joey fixes Romeo's boat and he reveals a little of what has been going on in Summer Bay since she left...