Chapter 1

Summer Bay was now more then ever a changed place. Robbo put away behind bars, after found guilty on charges of raping Joey. Hugo had admitted his feelings for Martha, which of course Brendan knew all along he had. They were now in a relationship, taking it one step at a time but clearly happy. Roman seemed more relaxed and now expressed more consideration for others. He had forgiven Aden and Nicole; though still found it frustrating without his sight. Angelo had very much grown part of the scenery, but still not easily accepted by the residents. Colleen on the other hand, had remained her usual self, distributing the gossip to the ears that would listen, and bobbing about the diner. But this projected and a real sense of normality, whatever that was.

Charlie scanned the diner, she had been sitting at her table for over half an hour, clearly disconnected to anything or anyone. She let out a heavy sigh.

"Ah Charlie how are ya love, what can I get ya?" Irene came over.

"uh no thanks! I'm good, I was just leaving." Charlie tried to smile as she walked out, wanting to avoid conversation. Irene didn't quite know what to make of this, but soon found herself occupied with Colleen who was hassling a reporter about an article.

Charlie had legged it out, now suddenly feeling sick from the lunch, she pounced on the nearest bin and threw up and let out a whimper. A hand offered a tissue, she grabbed it to wipe her mouth, then looked up. Joey. She took a double take, suddenly aware she must have looked a state she readjusted focus to the ground. "How are you?" she managed to say. "I'm good. Positive now the trial is over, it's only forward from here on out." Charlie forced herself to look up at her. "You on the other hand clearly don't look great!"

"Ya I know."

"So are you going to spill or will I have to pound it out of you?"

"huh!" Charlie stood back a little uneasy.

"I haven't seen you for ages, you've been darting around like a blue assed-fly! When I came back and survived the torturous course case I thought we'd be moving forward together, even if it means us just being friends. Are we on the same page here?" Joey eyed Charlie waiting for a response. She realised her tone had been a little harsh, and Charlie was now producing rather numerous tears down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to say it quite like that." She moved forward, as did Charlie. Both opened their arms and embraced each other. "Ya we're on the same page." Charlie managed to whisper among the escaping tears. "Come on, lets go home ya?" she nodded and followed just a little behind, clinging on to her arm.

Leah had been cooking, aromas seeped from the kitchen door, alluring them in. "Something smells wonderful!" Joey said enthusiastically. Leah turned around with an awkward grin. "Aw I'm sorry, I forgot to ask you. Roman's popping over this evening for dinner, VJ's got a sleep over, so I was kind of hoping that you could both…." She trailed off. Charlie and Joey grinned and rolled their eyes. "Ya of course" they said. "I promise we won't be too late, Ruby coming back later anyway from Xavier's. Thanks your awesome!" Joey noticed a hop, skip and jump in Leah's walk around the kitchen, it was great to see her this happy again.

Charlie plonked herself on the sand and brought her legs up to her chest. Joey copied but instead crossed her legs. Both sat in silence for a few minutes. They hadn't actually had enough time to themselves to fill the many holes they both still had in their hearts. After the court case, things became a blur. Leah had automatically assumed Joey would be moving back, which didn't give them both a chance to talk openly before hand. Both had been consumed with daily duties, one day soon rolled off to another. And now here they were.

"As a friend I am here for you Charlie, you can tell me anything. I love you and care about you, naturally I worry." She turned to her.

"I know." She replied. "I just…I'm in a mess too big to handle right now."

"well talk to me, let me be there for you."

"We never even…" she trailed off, trying so desperately hard to hold back tears. Her eyes were still saw from earlier. "We never got to talk properly after everything and I feel that we're so disconnected from each other already, I can't dump my problems on you." Joey stared at her as she said this, and contemplated. Then stared at the ground.

"I'm sorry." Was all she could say. Charlie took a deep breath and projected the words she was so sorry she knew she had to say "I'm pregnant." Joey, wide eyed looked at her up and down " you mean….you're…..… a bun in the oven?" a sudden realisation painted her face. Hugo. Joey put a hand up to her mouth, then rubbed her eyes. "Oh Jesus! Hmmm" she sat back. Just when she thought everything was moving forward. She had now, somehow been transported back to when her life was pig shit. A few minutes passed. "Please say something." Charlie had remained staring at the ground, feeling as ashamed as that night she had betrayed Joey. "What can I say Charlie?" She stood up. Charlie at this point burst into tears. Joey was going to walk away from her for good. Joey supported her head, while she tried to wrack her brains for the right words. "Charlie I love you! It's been months since the court case and I'm still here. Ok we haven't had as many conversations as we have both liked. We've both been physically and mentally drained, we've both been healing. If this…" she waved her hand "is how it's meant to be then I accept that. I've forgiven you for your mistakes, but I'm not the kind of person that's going to forever hold this against you. I thought you knew that." Charlie bounced up. "Do you really….really mean that?" She eyes searched for an immediate response. Joey walked forward. "Yes I do, ok I freely admit I'm not thrilled about it, but I have to believe that everything happens for a reason." " I thought you were going to leave for good." Charlie swung her arms around Joey, holding tightly. "I love you so much." She said as she stroked her neck with her thumb. They pulled apart and stared into each others eyes. Joey let out a sound of surprise. "I thought….I thought you didn't have feelings for me anymore." "What?" "Well ya I thought you just wanted to be friends, I mean we haven't had this much physical bonding for ages." Charlie wanted so much to kiss her, to taste her, but she resisted afraid of moving too fast. She let go of her and moved away. Joey swung her back into her arms. Charlie didn't know what to make of this. "this really does complicate this to timbuck-too ya know." "I know." She looked at the ground, hanging her head low. Joey reached for her face, and brought her closer. Charlie trembled, was she really go to kiss her? After everything. Had she told her she was pregnant or had it been a dream? How could this possible be real? Their faced were barely touching, but both grew impatient with desire. Charlie made the move and sealed the kiss, unable to take anymore of the wait. Joey responded moving her hand to her neck to bring her even closer to feel each other deep inside their mouths. Tired of the wait, the mistakes, the worries, and the new found hurdles. They still loved each other, it had to be enough.