Will I ever be able to move on?

I hope you enjoy this new story I have thought of, it came to me while I was reading other stories and watching awful daytime telly. Please review and let me no your ideas and views. As normal in features my two favourite home and away characters Charlie and Joey, even though home and away have got rid of them both now.

Prologue.

I'm not sure if you are aware of British television but we have a talk show called Jeremy kyle. He talks to people who are having problems with family, alcohol, drugs, etc. and provides lie detectors and DNA tests. They also provide counselling and psychiatric treatment for the guests.

This story starts with The Jeremy Kyle show goes down under, two of his guests on the show is a lesbian couple who are having commitment issues due to, one of the women being hurt badly in a past relationship. As you can probably guess the couple is Joey and her new partner. Ruby has finished school and waiting to start her police training, when she sits at home watching telly, laughing at the latest chat show until she gets an unexpected surprise when a blast from the past appears in front of her eyes.

Chapter 1.

"Good morning and welcome to my show, as you can see the Jeremy Kyle show has gone down under, yes folks I'm in Sydney Australia. I would like you to put your hands together for our first guest, her name is Penny and she has come on the show to give her girlfriend a final ultimatum either she commits 100% to their relationship or it's over for good." Just then the audience clap loudly as a young blonde woman comes onto the stage from the left and sits nervously on one of the chairs provided while Jeremy sits on the other chair next to her.

"Ok Penny I understand you have come on the show because you want to give your girlfriend an ultimatum is that right?" he asked before smiling at the nervous woman nervously rubbing her hands on her trouser legs. "Errr mmm yes that's right. I need her to decide once and for all if she wants to be with me." She replies nervously. "Hey there's nothing to be nervous about, is it that lot or me that's making you nervous?" He asks laughing. She smiles at him before admitting it was all of it, the audience, him and the situation. "Ok why don't you tell us a little bit about her, how long have you been together? Where you met etc." she relaxes slightly as a smile spreads across her face as she tells him they had been a couple for just over a year, they had met when Joey had gone for a drink in the bar she worked in, with her colleagues after they had come ashore for a few days leave while their boss had maintenance done on the trawler they worked on. She went on to explain that it was love at first sight for her, but for Joey it had been harder, Joey had been hurt in the past and had decided relationships were not for her. "I had to do a lot of flirting to do before she finally gave in and agreed to go for a drink with me." She said happily.

"Ok, so we now know how you two met and how long you have been together, why don't you tell us what brings you to the show? Why have you got to the point where you need to give her an ultimatum, and do you really mean it when you say it will be over if she can't commit?" "Yes I am very serious, this is not something that I have just got from the top of my head, I have thought of nothing else for weeks and I can't go on. I love her but I can't wait around forever I want marriage, and kids the whole lot. We have been together over a year and we still live separately, when she's on dry land she would rather book into a hostel than stay with me, a couple of day's and nights and she starts panicking. I have tried talking to her about it but she just dismisses it and then usually walks out on me, she just says I knew what she was like from the beginning." She replied sadly.

"OK, I understand she has been through a lot in her earlier life which we can't go into right now for obvious reasons, and to be fair she did tell you from day one she no longer did serious, but I can understand how you feel I would think after a year together you come to a point when you take it to the next step or call it a day. Should we get her out and hear her side of it? Ok folks could you put your hands together and welcome Joey to the stage.

Just then Joey comes onto the stage from the right and sits in the seat now vacated by Jeremy. She smiles at Penny before taking her hand. "Hi Joey, it's nice to meet you. Well I take it you heard everything your girlfriend said out here and we would like to give you chance to reply." "Hi Jeremy." She replies nervously. "So I understand you met just over a year ago and things have been good for the most part." He asks "Yes, I work on long haul trawlers and go to sea for three months at a time but when I'm back on dry land we hook up." She replies giving Penny a smile. "Penny maybe you should tell Joey what you told us, and the reason you brought her here today." He says before sitting down on the steps in front of them. "Well Joey you know how I feel about you, but you also know I want more. I have tried talking to about it but you dismiss it and either walk away or distract me." At this a blush appears allowing the audience a chance to guess exactly how she distracts her. "Joey I love you but I'm not getting any younger and I want commitment, I want to spend the rest of our lives together maybe have kids. I'm not asking you to give up the job you love; all I want is for you to move in with me when you are on dry land, I don't understand why you want to stay in a hostel when we could be together." Waiting for Joey to reply she sits nervously knowing how much Joey was upset about being brought on national television to air their problems. She had worried Joey would refuse but felt pleased to be sat next to her, even if by the end of it she may be single. Joey nervously sat up straight before coughing nervously. "Pen, you know how much I care for you, but I told you from the start I don't do commitment. I can't. You know what I have been through."

"If I can say something Joey, I don't think it's just the lack of commitment I think from what Penny has said she feels like she is competing with someone else." Joey shakes her head, releases Penny's hand whilst sighing heavily. "Pen this is ridiculous, I'm with you. Do you really think I would have been with you this long if I wanted someone else? I would never cheat on you, and to be honest I'm getting sick of your paranoia." "It's not that I think you are cheating but she is the one that broke your heart. She's the one that you're not over. You still carry her photo in your wallet. And until you can get over her I will always be second best, you will never commit to more than a couple of nights with me will you?" "Your right Charlie did break my heart, she took me at my most vulnerable made me fall deeply for her, before stomping all over my heart and it took me along time to get past that. It's not about her it's about being that emotional, giving everything to someone and trusting them not to break you again. I care a great deal for you and want to be with you but I'm sorry I can't give you any more than I have already." They sat staring into each others eyes as the tears flowed.

"Joey I understand from what you have both told my team that your feelings come from more than just a past relationship, and if I'm honest it brings a shiver down my spine to think how much you have gone through, and I respect you for getting on with your life. Penny you have heard what Joey has said have you come to a decision whether your futures are together or apart? I must say all the years I have been doing this show and this is the first time when I really have no idea how my team can help, I genuinely have no idea what I would do in your situation. Before you make your decision I would like to introduce you to Graham, our resident psychologist." As Graham makes his way onto the stage the audience give him aloud round of applause. "Graham you have been listening back stage, what is your take on the situation?" "Well I have been listening, but I have also spoken to both Penny and Joey and I think that Joey needs to firstly work out where she see's her self in a few years time. If you have any thoughts of settling down and committing yourself to Penny or even another person, you really need to deal with the issues from your past. I would like to offer my help as I really believe deep down you haven't dealt with all the hurt and misery you have suffered. Penny although Joey was honest from the beginning I can understand how the more time that passes you begin to believe in happy ever after and I do think you are partly right when you say there is a third person in the relationship, carrying a photo of an ex is a strong indication that you have not got over her and are unable to let go completely. If you decide to stay together I am also willing to work with you as a couple as well as just Joey."

"Thank you Graham, I can honestly say I would hate to be in your situation but Penny you came here today for a reason, and it is now time to find out, will you be leaving together as a couple through that door trying to work through your problems or are you going to leave separately and part company?" The audience wait for what feels like forever before Penny eventually turns to look her girlfriend in the eye. "I'm sorry Joey, but I can't keep doing this, it hurts too much. I love you and I really hope you can get passed all your issues but I need to move on and find someone who loves me like I love them." They both move forward and hold each other tightly. Once they eventually part Joey stands and apologises to Penny for all the hurt she has caused, she wishes her well and thanks Jeremy and Graham before walking of the stage alone.

Mean while in summer bay Charlie is rushing around getting ready for work, since it had come out about her past relationship with Brax, she felt pressure from her bosses to prove she was worthy of her position as Sergeant of the Yabbi creek police station. While rushing back into her room to find her phone and bag. She shouted "Ruby get your lazy backside out of bed right now." A very moody Ruby stood in the doorway to her mother's room. "Mum I'm not at school any more why can't I enjoy a lie in before I start at the academy." She moaned "Ruby just because you have a few weeks before starting your training does not mean you can laze about all day doing nothing. I want you to make sure the house is spotless and organise something for dinner. I want you pulling your wait. It's not fair for it to be down to Leah and myself after working all day. Go to the diner and ask Leah if she needs anything doing. And most importantly stay out of trouble. Now I have to go I have left some money for you, I really have to go as I'm going to be late, call me if you need anything. I love you." With that she kissed her quickly on the forehead as she made her way out.

Ruby couldn't decide between going back to bed and getting some breakfast. Her stomach rumbling made the decision for her and she made her way into the kitchen to fetch a bowl of cereal and glass of juice before going to sit in the lounge. She put the telly on and began flicking through the channels for something to watch. Eventually deciding on an English Chat show, she started laughing at his accent but decided it might be worth watching for a bit anyway. A couple of minutes into the show and Ruby had heard a blonde lesbian talking about her girlfriend's commitment issues. "I can't believe she would go on national telly to tell her girlfriend to buck her ideas up or piss off." She said shaking her head. Just then the presenter announced the blonde's girlfriend was coming on stage; he asked the audience for around of applause and invited Joey onto the stage. Just then the camera zooms to the left and zooms in on Joey walking onto the stage. Ruby sat up spitting her mouthful of cereal out in shock. "Oh my god, It really is Joey." She shouted her mum and Leah but then remembered she was home alone. She turned the telly up to listen closely. As the show went on it was clear how unhappy Joey was in the relationship with her girlfriend, this was not the Joey they all loved. Ruby watched intently as Joey struggled to admit she wasn't in love with Penny and that she still wasn't over Charlie. Smiling Ruby knew it was the same for her mother, since Joey she had gone from one disastrous relationship with Angelo to a disastrous affair with Brax, which could have cost her job since he was the boss of a gang that was known to be into all sorts of illegal business. It was obvious she would never get over Joey; she was her true soul mate. Ruby really believed they had a future together but it all happened to fast Charlie was struggling to get her head around the fact she was Gay or Bi, when they became the talk of the town, and Charlie was being investigated for misconduct, why was falling in love a crime? They were told to stay away from each other and Charlie being Charlie thought that meant she had lost everything her Soul mate, her career, her self respect. She went to the beach with a bottle of alcohol to drown her sorrows; she met Hugo who started teasing her about being Gay and as usual decided to use sex as a way to punish herself. She then stupidly tried to hide what she had done instead of telling Joey the truth and that was that. But surely if Joey wasn't over Charlie they could work things out. Couldn't they?

Ruby rushed to her room to get dressed, she needed to talk to someone and Leah would know what to do, rushing out of the house she took her laptop with her as she could watch the show on one of the websites.

Ruby ran gasping into the diner shouting for Leah, who came running worried from the kitchen when she heard the shouts, "Ruby what's wrong?" She asked taking the young Buckton into her arms before finding an empty seat for her, Roo who was serving customers at the counter went to get Ruby a drink of water also concerned with the state she was in. Ruby tried to explain between gasps and thanked Roo for the glass of water. Taking a large gulp she put down her laptop and switched it on. When her breathing returned to normal she slowly explained what had happened that morning from Charlie waking her up early. "Ruby is all this leading somewhere?" Leah laughed. "Yes, if you let me explain. Anyway I took my breakfast into the lounge and was trying to find something decent to watch when I came across this English chat show that had come to Sydney for some reason, the first person on was a blonde lesbian called Penny who was there to tell her girlfriend to commit or it was over. You will never guess who the girlfriend was. All the time she spoke she was typing on the computer; she then turned it around and pressed play. Leah glanced puzzled at the screen before realisation had her staring intently "Oh my god, that's ….." "I know." Ruby cried. "It's Joey." "As nice as this is would someone mind telling me who Joey is and why seeing her on some chat show has you screaming like a couple of excited kids?" Roo asked "Leah suddenly realised where she was and calmed down "Joey is Charlie's ex girlfriend. The only one Charlie has actually fallen in love with. She was broken hearted when Joey left and still hasn't got over her." "Oh I remember Dad saying something about Charlie having a relationship with a woman, so this is the one that broke Charlie's heart. Wow she is very pretty."

They watched the rest of the show with Roo constantly interrupting to ask questions. Once Joey left the stage, Ruby pressed stop. "Isn't this great it means Joey still loves Charlie. They could get back together." Ruby burst out. "Wait minute Rubes, don't you think you are getting ahead of yourself here? So, Joey is still struggling to move on, that doesn't mean she wants to get back with Charlie, it has been two years for god's sake." Leah tried to reason. "Leah did you not here what they said? Come on you know as well as I do they belong together. So what do we do now?" She asked excitedly. "Rubes as much as I would love to see them back together we don't even know where Joey lives. Or even how to contact her." Leah tried to reason. "I may be able to help with that, you said this was filmed in Sydney yes? Well it must be the bright studios, and I happen to know someone who just happens to be on the board of directors, I did some work for him and he just happens to owe me a favour. I could make a call and see if I could get some information. I can't promise anything but it's surely worth a try?" Roo replied.

After some more discussion it was decided that Roo would make the call but Ruby was told not to build her hopes up. "Do you think we should tell Charlie about this?" Ruby asked Leah nervously. "I think until we actually have something to tell her we should keep it between ourselves." Sighing heavily Ruby reluctantly agreed with Leah.

A few minutes later Roo came back and told them her friend had been there, and he was actually dealing with the show himself as a kind of welcome to Australia. He has promised to see what he can do and will call me back. "Ruby please don't get your hopes up on this, they may not be able to actually give out any information, on the guests that appear on the show." "Ok, ok I understand, if this doesn't work we will have to come up with plan b. I know they belong together and I will do everything I can to make it happen." Once she had drank a coffee Leah had given her on the house she remembered what her mum told her to do and asked if Leah needed her to do anything. She then happily walked home along the beach to tidy the house and organise dinner. Dusting the side she picked up a photo of her and Charlie taken at Charlie's birthday party earlier in the year. Smiling she she touched her mothers face. "I love you mum and I promise I will do everything I can to get Joey back for you." With that she carried on singing and dancing while she tidied.

Next time

Roo's friend calls her back but should she really pass it on to Ruby.

Ruby questions Charlie about Joey, causing her to wonder what was going on.

Joey is torn whether to take the show up on there help or not.