Welcome to my new story. I hope you like it. It's set after Charlie and Joey got together on the show. The first chapter has some of the original dialogue but CJ lovers will notice the obvious differences. This is a ten chapter piece and it's already written so I will start posting it up like I do with the others. Enjoy! I hope! I always get nervous when I post a new story up... So, yes. I hope you like it. Love, IJKS xx

Be With Me

Chapter One

It was the morning after the night before and Charlie was concentrating on the road, although her thoughts were quickly and easily distracted. She could hardly believe that she and Joey were finally a proper couple. Joey had given her an ultimatum of be with her now or lose her forever and when it had come to the crunch, Charlie had known whole-heartedly that she couldn't let her walk away. So they had driven down to the beach and talked honestly about their feelings. Charlie had refused to let herself panic and run away and instead she'd been open about them and they'd finally taken the plunge and committed themselves to each other. They'd kissed for a long time in the front seat of Charlie's car and it had been so incredible that Charlie had feigned work to Ruby and sneaked away to a hotel to spend the night with the woman she had surprised herself so much by falling in love with. They'd hardly slept all night as they'd wrapped themselves up in each other. Their love making had been gentle and loving, unlike anything Charlie had ever experienced before. And she doubted it would be something she would ever forget. And when they'd finally exhausted themselves, having finally released all the pent up tension that had existed between them for weeks, they had kissed until the sun began to rise and creep through the curtains. Only a few days ago, the idea of giving in and letting Joey lie in her arms while they played with each other's hair and fingers or stroked each other's skin and kissed each other's lips, had been abhorrent to Charlie. But doing it, and thinking about it now, nothing had ever felt so right before. She was in love. And she was happy about it. Pulling up to the side of the road, she and Joey gazed at each other, feeling shy.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked as they undid their seatbelts.

Joey nodded and smiled. She was definitely okay. She had been dreaming of finally being with Charlie for weeks now and she had not been disappointed. It had been her first... second, third and fourth time since what had happened with Robbo and Joey had been exceptionally nervous. She was in love with Charlie but she was shy of her body and a little frightened at being touched. But Charlie had understood that and she'd been so tender. There had also been a lot of pressure, Joey felt. Charlie may have slept with more than one man before but she had never been with a woman. Joey had been terrified that if it hadn't gone well, Charlie would have changed her mind about her and that was a thought she couldn't bear. But everything had gone perfectly. It had been beautiful and romantic and she knew she would be reliving those glorious moments over and over again. It was strange to think that just yesterday morning, Joey had been intent on getting as far away from Charlie as possible. And now they had never felt so close. She admitted as much to Charlie who immediately let a wave of sadness rush over her. She felt terrible for the way she'd messed Joey around, especially when she was so fragile. And she could hardly believe how much time she had wasted when she and Joey could have been so happy, like they were now.

"I never thought this could actually happen!" Joey grinned.

Charlie felt the overwhelming need to apologise, explaining yet again just how scared she had been of admitting her feelings.

"Are you still scared now?" Joey asked seriously.

Charlie barely needed to think about it before she shook her head. Of course part of her was terrified but the part that felt like it would always win out now was her love for Joey. She felt like as long as they were together, they could face anything. Joey smiled. It was infectious. Charlie couldn't fail to smile back, thinking that Joey looked so beautiful, all tired in the morning sun. She looked almost as perfect as she had the night before, quietly confident in the moonlight.

"But it would be nice if we could just take off!" Charlie admitted, still smiling.

Joey studied her face thoughtfully. She reached out to hold her hand and felt a spark rush up her arm at the mere contact.

"Why don't we?" she suggested.

Charlie turned back to her in surprise.

"Go away?" she queried.

Joey nodded.

"It'd be nice to spend some time together," she ventured. "You know, away from Summer Bay, gossip and pressure. We could just... get away from everything, learn to be together."

Charlie beamed at her. The idea sounded perfect.

"I'll call work when I get home," she said. "And I'll book a hotel somewhere. How does that sound?"

"Perfect," Joey replied honestly.

They grinned at each other. Charlie licked her lips as she studied Joey's face. She really was amazing. Daring to lean forward, Charlie closed the gap between them. Joey was surprised but responded quickly. She placed her hand on Charlie's shoulder, pulling her closer and letting their contact develop. She touched her tongue delicately against Charlie's lips, which parted immediately as their kiss began to deepen. Finally drawing away, both were giggling nervously and blushing. It all felt so new and exciting, even though they had kissed several times now.

"Well, I'd better go and tell them that I'm not going to take that job anymore," Joey said.

She looked worried for a moment.

"This is what you want, isn't it, Charlie?" she checked. "You're not regretting anything? You want to be with me?"

Charlie pulled her in for another kiss. It took both their breaths away.

"I definitely want to be with you," she said. "I love you."

Joey's smile widened, although she hadn't thought it possible.

"I love you too," she said.

Charlie smiled back and then sighed. She turned to gaze out of the windscreen. Joey touched her arm gently.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

"I'm just thinking about how I'm going to have to start telling people," she admitted. "I want to tell Ruby. She needs to know first."

Joey nodded. She was well aware of how close the girls were and getting Ruby's approval would be essential to them moving on as a proper couple.

"Would it be easier if we told her together?" she asked, worried that she was overstepping the mark.

Charlie turned back to, touched yet again that Joey cared so much for her. She didn't think she'd ever felt so special before in all her life. She nodded.

"I'd really like that," she said. "Thank you."

Joey squeezed her hand tenderly, pleased that Charlie really wanted to make this work and face the world together.

"Maybe tonight before we go," Charlie said thoughtfully. "But then... no, we should wait until we're back from our trip. I can't just drop it on her and then take off. That wouldn't be fair, would it?"

"Probably not," Joey agreed.

"So, when we get back?"

Joey nodded.

"And tonight, I'll come and get you from your place at around five and we can head out," Charlie suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Joey agreed.

They continued to smile so happily at each other.

"Well, I'd better let you go," Joey said.

She paused, wondering how they ought to say goodbye. Charlie solved the problem by pulling her in for another kiss.

"I'm so happy, Charlie," Joey admitted when they parted.

"So am I," Charlie replied. "I mean, I'm worried about how things will change now... what people will think but... what I really care about, more than any of that, is you. As long as we're together, everything else will be okay."

"It will," Joey promised.

They kissed one more time before Joey climbed out the car in order to go to the docks and cancel her forthcoming job. She stayed by the side of the road and waved, giddy as a school girl, as Charlie drove home. Neither Charlie nor Joey had realised that Ruby had seen the whole thing on her way to school.