Hey, This is my first Joey/Charlie fan fic so I hope it's okay :) Reviews to let me know if you guys like it would be greatly appreciated!

Oh and the song title is taken from the rascal flatts song 'Bless the broken road' (Awesome song):

Chapter 1

"Charlie!" Ruby exclaimed loudly as she pounded on the door to her sister's bedroom. It was pulled open a moment later to reveal Charlie standing in front of her, her hair a mess and eyes bloodshot.

"What?" the older girl groaned as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Have you been drinking?" Ruby questioned in concern as she attempted to look beyond her sister's doorway.

"No" Charlie responded a bit too quickly for Ruby to believe her.

"Charlie..." Ruby sighed wearily. She swiped a hand over her eyes before a look of resolve settled over her features and she gently pushed Charlie back into the room.

"What are you doing?" Charlie asked in annoyance as she found herself being moved to sit on the bed.

"We need to talk" Ruby answered as she pulled the curtains of her sisters' window open.

Charlie groaned as she slumped backwards on the bed and placed her arm protectively over her eyes "Don't you know that the sun is bad for you?"

"Charlie" Ruby murmured quietly as she moved to sit next to her sister on the bed. Charlie moved her arm from her eyes to look at her sister but made no other movement.

"I'm worried about you" the younger girl confessed quietly as she took Charlie's hand "I'm REALLY worried"

Charlie sighed and sat up slightly in an attempt to appear more in control "You don't have to be...I'm fine!"

"You're not fine!" Ruby exclaimed with such ferocity that it surprised both herself and Charlie for a moment "You're not...Not since Joey left...Just TALK to me Charlz"

"I can't" Charlie stated adamantly, shaking her head.

"Why?" Ruby asked in defeat "You know you can talk to me about anything..."

"It hurts" Charlie stated unable to hide the tears which were audible in her voice "It HURTS to talk...It hurts to breathe knowing that I pushed her away. I screwed up the best thing that's ever happened to me Rubz!"

"Charlie..." Ruby whispered sadly as she reached out for her sister.

"Stop!" Charlie exclaimed as she pulled away and practically leaped off the bed "Stop it...I don't deserve comfort or...or sympathy! It's all my fault..."

Ruby sat still on the bed watching her sister pacing. She honestly had no idea what to do since she had never been in this position before. It was always Charlie comforting her not the other way around.

"I miss her" Charlie finally stopped pacing and turned her heartbroken eyes back to Ruby "And you know the worst thing?"

Ruby shook her head numbly.

"I don't think she had ANY IDEA of how much loved her" The older girl finished "I love her so much Ruby but I was an IDIOT and now she's GONE!"

Ruby stood up unable to watch her sister's pain anymore and drew her into a tight hug. Charlie relaxed against her almost instantly and she clung onto Ruby as tears wracked her body.

"I love her..."

"I know" Ruby soothed as she ran a hand over her sister's hair in a comforting gesture "I know..."

Charlie pulled back to look at her sister "I don't know what I'm going to do without her Rubz..."

---

Joey closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh smell of the sea as she walked slowly down summer bay beach. She had resolved in her mind that she had to come back. She had to see Charlie just one more time.

"JOEY!"

Joey didn't even have time to glance up before she found herself in Ruby's giant bear hug which almost knocked her onto the ground. She was slightly surprised by the teen's enthusiasm but hugged her back just as tightly.

"Hey Ruby" she smiled when Ruby eventually released her.

"When did you get back?" Ruby questioned excitedly still holding onto Joey's arms.

"Just A couple of hours ago actually" Joey's expression darkened slightly as she looked to the ground then back up at Ruby "How's...How's Charlie?"

"She's...not good" Ruby responded sadly.

"What do you mean?" Joey asked in concerned confusion "What's wrong with her?!"

Ruby shot Joey a look that said 'Are you kidding me?' but she answered anyway "She's been a mess since you left Joey"

Joey and Ruby began to walk slowly down the beach.

"She's been drinking..." Ruby said quietly as she glanced sidelong at Joey "A lot. She really misses you" when Joey offered no response the teenager stopped short and grabbed her arm gently "Why are you here Joey?"

Joey sighed and looked out to the sea "I needed to see her again"

"Joey if you're only here to break her heart even more I think you should just leave" Ruby crossed her arms in front of her as she gazed hard at Joey.

The older girl looked at her in surprise "ME break HER heart?"

"I know what she did was wrong" Ruby reasoned "But you haven't seen her yet Joey. She's not the same Charlie she was before. She's been beating herself up about what she did ever since you left and... I don't you to add to her pain Okay?"

Joey nodded silently.

"Are you going to hurt her?" Ruby asked quietly.

"I don't know" Joey said softly as she sat down on the sand. She looked up at Ruby "I just wanted to see her one last time Ruby..."

Ruby sighed as she plopped down on the sand next to the other girl "This is going to kill her..."

Joey looked over at her, pain clearly etched onto her features "What should I do Ruby? I can't just forgive her! You have no idea how much she hurt me!"

"And YOU have no idea how much she loves you" Ruby pointed out gently.

"I still love her..." Joey said quietly "I love her so much..."

"Then you should stay" Ruby stated obviously "You should stay and you should FIGHT for her. Fight for what you had together"

"I can't" Joey responded tearfully as she stood up "I need to see her though..." with that she began to walk away.

"JOEY!" Ruby yelled.

Joey glanced behind her "What?!"

"If you hurt her..." Ruby left her threat hanging and Joey nodded before turning and walking away.

---

Joey wiped her clammy hand on her jeans before she took a deep breath and lifted a hand knocking on the door in front of her. A matter of minutes later it was flung open to reveal Charlie standing there looking as beautiful as ever but Joey noticed the spark that had disappeared from her eyes.

"Joey?!" Charlie gasped in shock.

Joey felt tears building up in her eyes as she took in the sight of the woman she loved. She couldn't help herself as she engulfed Charlie in a warm hug. Charlie returned the hug just as desperately as she inhaled the scent that she had missed for almost three months.

"Joey?" she questioned when she pulled away "What...what are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you" Joey responded simply "Can I...come in?"

"Oh!" Charlie exclaimed realising they were still standing in the doorway "Yeah, of course you can!" she stepped out of the way allowing Joey to walk past her.

"How have you been?" Joey asked as she sat on the couch.

"I've been..." Charlie looked away from Joey's gaze "Fine..."

"I saw Ruby" Joey said quietly.

"Oh" Charlie responded slowly "What did she say?"

"She said that you're a bit of a mess" Joey responded offering a small smile.

Charlie closed her eyes for a second before she reopened them and looked into Joey's eyes "Look Joey..." she started as she sat next to Joey on the couch and reached for her hand "I know you don't want to hear this but I have to say it anyway..." when Joey nodded almost imperceptibly she continued "I'm sorry. For everything...I have no excuses for what I did to you Joey. I'm not even going to try to defend myself..." she gazed sincerely into Joey's eyes "What I did with him was stupid. It was a mistake. I don't think I realised how much I need you...how much I love you until..."

"Shh" Joey interrupted softly as she placed a finger on Charlie's lips "Don't Charlie"

Charlie remained silent and watched Joey expectantly.

"I love you" Joey stated quietly "But I can't be with you...I can't risk it...I have to leave again..."

"Joey..."

"Charlie!" Joey exclaimed as her eyes filled with tears "Don't make this any harder for me...Please..."

"But I love you!" Charlie argued as tears slipped down her own cheeks.

"I know..." Joey whispered as she brushed Charlie's tears away with her fingertips "But sometimes it just isn't enough..." she leaned forward and placed a delicate kiss on Charlie trembling lips "I love you so much Charlie..." she moved back and smiled tearfully at the older girl "I'll never love anyone like I love you..." with that she pulled her hand from Charlie's and walked out of the door leaving the other girl shaking with sobs.

---

"Charlie?" Ruby called in anticipation as she entered the house. She moved into the living room and her heart sank when she spotted Charlie on the couch shaking with almost silent sobs.

"Charlie?" she whispered as she moved to sit next to her sister. She placed a hand on her back and Charlie turned her tearful gaze to her.

"She left me again..." the older girl whispered a moment before Ruby pulled her into a tight embrace.

---

Joey ran down the beach ignoring the tears which blurred her vision. She finally slumped to the ground next to the sea and began to sob in earnest "Damn it Charlie..."

TBC?