Title: "Someday Is Something"

Rating: K +

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All belongs to H&A and Channel 7 – if it didn't Jarlie would still be on our screens.

Summary: We'll start a tad after Joey left, and flash-forward 3 months forward in the upcoming chapters.

Chapter One

She's gone. Charlie slumped to her knees as she watched Joey disappear from her sight on the trawler. Charlie couldn't breathe, couldn't believe that she didn't do everything possible to keep Joey...her Joey to stay in the bay with her. Tears streaked down her face, her emotions were overflowing. She'd realized the extent of the biggest mistake of her life – because it had cost her the love of her life. She thought back to the beginning of her relationship with Joey and couldn't believe how fast everything had happened.

It seemed like it was only yesterday that she was a carefree, workaholic cop. And single. Things seemed so simple but lonely. It all changed when she spotted a cute, brunette behind the bar at Noah's. And before she could even pinpoint it she was in love. She was terrified when she admitted her feelings for Joey, but felt that everything was going to be ok. She had Joey by her side, and Ruby supported her. That's all that mattered.

But everything entailed with being with Joey eventually destroyed them. It was all her fault. She knew that. She had screwed up, and Joey would never trust her again. All because of Hugo. How could one person have such a bad affect on her life? Choking back more tears, she thought about how much of an influence Joey had had on her life. She was her life. Charlie knew she had to be strong, and just wait for Joey to return.

"Three months is forever." How true that felt. Charlie continued to stare out to the sea, praying that her Joey would change her mind, return to give her – them – another chance. She sat down on the edge of the pier with her legs dangling in the water. It seemed like only minutes passed by, but suddenly she noticed the sun had set and the wind had picked up. Shivers run down her spine. Is this what it will be like for the next three months? Sitting, waiting, regretting one stupid night. Why did she have to prove to herself she wasn't gay? What did it matter what she was? She had an amazing girlfriend who loved her. Had. Charlie hated the past tense.

The shrill of her mobile phone broke the silence. Charlie looked at her caller ID: Ruby. She loved her sister but couldn't bear to talk to her right now. Ruby never meant it but Charlie knew she'd be getting the "I told you so" speech from her baby sister when she found out Joey had left. This time Charlie knew that Ruby was right, she shouldn't have lied to Joey. Maybe if she had of told her the truth about her night with Hugo, defended her actions after the worst day in her career. No there was no defending her actions – sleeping with Hugo, drunk or not she made the choice. Joey would never trust her again, and Charlie knew she shouldn't but hoped that after three months she and Joey had changed enough work through all this. For Joey to forgive her, for Charlie to prove she could be who Joey needed.

The sun was beginning to rise as Charlie finally got up and made her way to her car. Instead of getting in and driving off, she leaned against the bonnet, just praying something would happen to fix all her problems. Before long Aden walked by and joined her. Joey must have told him she was leaving, and he was pretty devastated. Charlie wished Joey had enough courage to tell her about the job on the trawler. If it wasn't for the Ipod and Brett she never would have known. Aden convinced her to go home, but they took a detour when she offered him a lift back to Roman's. She was really surprised when Aden asked her in for a coffee. She figured Aden being the protective guy he was to Joey would hate her. But he didn't, he understood what was happening between her and Joey without needing to be told. Maybe their love was obvious to the people around them. Charlie took off home after a slight run in with an insensitive Nicole and an angry Roman. Maybe she wasn't the only one with problems.

Charlie collapsed in a heap on her bed, beginning to cry all over again. She almost laughed when she realized what she must look like. She was meant to be a tough cop, but here she was – an absolute mess. But she couldn't smile; it was like everything good in this world had left along with Joey. After awhile she fell asleep and was disorientated when she heard someone knocking on the front door. Not sure if she wanted to face whoever it was, she was slightly relieved when she saw it was Roman. He couldn't see how badly messed up she was, one of the advantages – on Charlie's part – of his blindness.

Charlie helped him sit down and started making them some lunch. She was trying not to fall apart in front of her ex, she knew he was having a hard time adjusting to the loss of his eyesight, and had witnessed that back at his place. Being the typical guy he was, Roman had come to apologise...and inquire about the newfound fact that she has a girlfriend. She couldn't lie to him. They had being very close at one stage. She needed someone to confide in, so she told him the truth that Joey and she were more than friends, but Joey had left for a few months for work. Well it was a half-truth at any rate. Being an ex-boyfriend she did try to explain to him that she wasn't gay, that she just didn't know what she was, and if she did why should it matter to anyone else. Charlie wished she had being thinking that before she went home with Hugo.

After Leah had interrupted their lunch, and Roman had made a not-too-subtle exit, Charlie found herself back in her room. Collapsing on the bed she noticed a letter on her bedside table. The envelope had her name written on it. Joey's handwriting. Charlie fought back tears as she slipped the letter out of the envelope and began to read.

Charlie,

I wish I had the courage to tell you in person, but as you're reading this letter I'll be on a boat sailing away from Summer Bay. I've taken a job on a trawler and it's a great opportunity for me. Not just as a job, but to get away from his town and get some perspective on what I want to happen with us. I still love you, you know that, but I can't be with you right now. I'm hoping this time will help mend these wounds but I can't promise you it will.

I still can't believe I'm leaving but I need to be strong. I need to learn to trust you again, and that won't happen as long as we're still in the same town bumping into each other. I can't stand to see your puppy dog eyes begging me for forgiveness again – because I know it'll work and I'll forgive you. Or at least I'll say all is forgiven so I can be wrapped in your arms again. But I can't go through this pain again. You know how hurt I was after everything with Robbo, and I'll never trust anyone again if I pushed us back together too soon and this doesn't work between us.

I'll be back in 3 months for the court case, and maybe then when things have settled down can we truly make this relationship work. I need you to give me this time and work out if I can trust you again, but I promise you I will give you a chance. Might not be as soon as you hope but it'll be...someday.

Always & forever

Joey

Charlie re-read the letter again and again before placing it back on the table. Fighting back more tears, she slipped under the covers, whispering to herself..."someday is something."