After Joey's surprise arrival at Leah's house, Charlie and Joey both knew it was time to talk.
Joey followed Charlie to the car in silence. They drove for a few minutes still not saying a word. The minutes gave Charlie time to process what was happening and Joey knew she needed that space, she knew that Charlie was a thinker and allowed her that time. They parked up next to the beach, Charlie knew there would be no interruptions there at this late hour.
After a few minutes more silence Charlie was the first to speak,she felt uneasy but she had to talk,she had bottled her feelings up for too long and tried to deny what she was feeling hoping they would go away. She turned slightly to Joey who had a scared but hopeful look on her face.
"I was scared........" she offered, pausing to see any response from Joey but there was nothing, she was just watching with so much hope in her eyes.
"This may seem shallow to you but......." she searched for the right words.
"I'm worried.......what its going to mean for my position at work..........and my family, friends, and Ruby. How are they going to look at me?" She asked the question but didn't really want the answer. Once Charlie had managed to say what she was thinking, it felt so natural opening up to Joey.
Joey immediately had doubts. Was Charlie trying to tell her that she thought more of what people thought of her than of Joey?
"Will you be embarrassed to be with me?" Joey questioned looking Charlie straight in the eye she wanted to get straight to the point.
"No, you know what I mean" Charlie lowered her head to break the eye contact, the heart to heart was beginning to get intense."You're over simplifying it". Was she or was Charlie once again running?
Joey still had her eyes firmly locked on Charlie, she had never been able to look at her so much before without being noticed by someone or even by Charlie herself. She looked even more perfect with the moonlight shining off her bronzed skin. She noticed a freckle on her chin that she had never seen before.
"Thats because to me it is simple" she replied "because I don't care what anyone else thinks".
Charlie knew this was easy for Joey as she had no one in her life that she cared about, no one else's feelings to consider.
"Yeah but maybe that's because you don't have as many responsibilities as I do" came Charlie's diplomatic response, not wanting to remind Joey that she had no real family.
Joey knew that Charlie was being kind and picking her words carefully, but she also knew that if anything was to happen she would have to convince Charlie that it was ok. "I don't want to go through my life wondering what could have been......if we'd just stop worrying about it and just done what was right with us".
Knowing it was now or never, Joey decided she had to tell her about her true feelings. "Charlie...when I saw you at the wharf today I could hardly breathe..." Joey added with a huge smile on her face. Just the thought of seeing Charlie in her uniform made her grin like a little school girl and she could not control it. It always reminded her of the first time she saw her. "That always happens when you are around".
"I thought you hated me this morning" Charlie had realised she had said that out loud, not meaning to. Before she could elaborate Joey replied.
"You serious?" Joey couldn't believe that Charlie didn't see the mask she had been wearing to hide her anguish. "I'm in love with you" Joey replied sincerely.
The words from Joey's mouth ran through Charlie's veins like fire. She had never heard those words and actually believed them. "I think......." She hesitated, she had never said them and actually meant it unlike now. "I'm in love with you too".
Never in Joey's wildest dreams had she thought that she would get that response from Charlie, she could not hide her delight and wore a huge smile that wouldn't go away. "What are we going to do about it?"
Charlie was searching for the answer which deep down she knew,but was almost afraid to uncover. She stared forwards, looking into the darkness of the night, looking for the right words, any words.
Seeing Charlie was lost for words, Joey continued with another question. "Do you want to be with me?"
There was still no audible response from Charlie. She simply nodded but Joey could see how difficult it was for Charlie to even do that, how painful it was for Charlie to hit her fears head on and acknowledge her feelings for another woman.
Joey tentative out stretched her arm and placed her hand on Charlie's head, lovingly stroking her hair, just to let her know it was ok.
The loving gesture was welcomed by Charlie who turned to look at Joey. To let Joey know her love was welcomed she reached out for her hand and held it firmly.
"Yes" Charlie responded, while nuzzling her head further in to Joey's hand looking for more attention from the woman she was in love with "I want to be with you".
Both women gazed at each other, not knowing what the future held or what to do at that precise moment. All they could do was smile.
Charlie, unknowingly was being drawn closer to Joey, and Joey could feel the gap closing. With no initiation needed the gap closed until the women's lips met.
The first kiss was tentative and loving, their lips brushed gently and then they parted as quickly as they had met. Both women gasped for air and their lips met once again, this time with a little more force, portraying the love they both felt.
The kiss was slow and tender, both revelling in the new sensation. Joey knew not to push things and continued to let Charlie savour the moment. In unison, their lips began to move against each other and the gap between their bodies began to close starting with Charlie's shoulder which was creeping closer to Joey.
They were still holding hands on the car seat but feeling confident, Joey released the grasp and began to stoke up Charlie's arm until it came to rest on her shoulder that she had so kindly put on offer.
Startled by the new contact Charlie pulled away in shock and breathless "I'm sorry.....I wasn't expecting that" She lowered her head in disappointment and shuffled in her seat to regain her composure.
With a cautious tone in her voice Joey replied...... "Charlie.........would you.....spend the night with me tonight?"
Charlie was amazed at Joey's forwardness and turned, open-mouthed to look at Joey.
Joey could see that Charlie had taken the question completely the wrong way, she new that people thought she was straight to the point but no way would she rush this and blow it forever.
She giggled and replied "I meant, can we stay here and sleep in the car until the sun rises? I would really like to watch the sunrise with you".