Woohoo! Nathan left Big Brother. So here, as promised is your extra update. As a side note, writing fic with my CJ hamsters is hilarious. They're absolutely rampant for each other. Their cages are side by side but I've had to move Charlie to the other side of the room because their squeaking (a mating call) is just too much. Poor little buggers. But in terms of being named Charlie and Joey, it's quite amusing. Ruby keeps trying to eat them. Or maybe she's trying to snuggle. I'm not entirely sure but she looks terribly guilty every time I catch her gazing at them!

Anyway, on with the fic. Thanks for giving the story a chance. I've said it before but I always get nervous when I post a new one. This chapter starts off in the same place that the first chapter did but this is the tale from Charlie's perspective. We get to find out who called her and what she got up to during her extended lunch break! I hope you like it. Love, IJKS xx

Chapter Two

So far, it had been a boring and monotonous day at work. Charlie was desk bound with a heap of reports that needed finishing. It was her least favourite part of the job. And added to that, she was feeling the pressure of Angelo's stare all the time. Things were awkward to say the least and she had no earthly idea how to handle things. He'd ignored her and then she'd ignored him and now they were friends but she wasn't entirely sure it was working. They'd had a lovely day together the previous week but then he'd been hurt when he'd asked her out for dinner and she'd turned him down. And now she didn't know how to be around him. She was sure that breaking up had been the right move but he obviously didn't feel the same way. Awkward was an understatement. She looked at her watch and pondered going for lunch. A break was definitely needed. She was just about to get up when her mobile rang. She picked it up off the desk and checked the name. Her heart leapt into her throat. With trembling fingers and a racing heart, she answered.

"Hello?" she said meekly.

"Hi," came the reply. "It's me."

Charlie didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"How... how are you?" she asked.

She looked up to see Angelo watching her. Needing privacy, however the conversation turned out, Charlie escaped the office and out of the station.

"I'm okay," Joey replied. "How are you?"

"I'm... I'm..."

Charlie had no idea what to say. How was she? She didn't think she'd known the answer to that question for a very long time.

"I hope you don't mind me calling?"

"Of course not!" Charlie said quickly. "It's... it's so good to hear your voice. How are you? Wait, I asked that already. Um..."

She felt like an idiot as she rambled on without pausing for breath. She smiled self consciously as she heard Joey chuckle softly at the end of the line.

"I'm back in the Bay," she said. "I don't know how long for but... can I see you?"

"I'd love to see you," Charlie said honestly. "When? I'm at work but I could take my break now. Where?"

All her questions were coming out in a rush. Just hearing Joey's voice was enough to send her mind into a spin. And to hear that she wanted to see her and that she didn't sound like she hated her, made her heart soar.

"I'm staying at Brett's," Joey said.

"Will he...?" Charlie began worriedly.

"He's out for the rest of the afternoon," Joey assured her. "Will you come?"

"I'm already on my way," Charlie said.

They said their goodbyes and Charlie raced back into the building a little breathlessly. Angelo was immediately intrigued but she couldn't explain.

"I'm taking my break," she said, grabbing her bag and keys. "I might be back late but I'll make it up tonight."

"Where are you...?" Angelo tried.

But Charlie was already gone. She hurried to her car and pulled out of the car park before she'd even got her seatbelt on properly. She couldn't believe that Joey Collins had really come home, even temporarily. And she couldn't believe that she'd actually called her and wanted to see her. Charlie had dreamt of this day so many times. She pulled up outside the house she'd parked outside so many times when she'd picked Joey up and dropped her off before, during their friendship and relationship. Taking a deep breath, Charlie attempted to psyche herself up. After a few moments, she climbed out of the car and walked nervously up to the front door. She knocked too quietly the first time and then began to worry about whether she ought to knock again or not. Just as she was about to, the door opened. Charlie couldn't help but stare as the most beautiful person she'd ever met stood in front of her. She licked her lips and studied Joey's face. She was tanned and her hair was a little shorter than before, just past her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and Charlie knew she could get lost in them all over again if she wasn't careful. She smiled, deciding she didn't want to be careful.

"You look beautiful," Charlie said honestly.

Joey looked pleased and surprised by the compliment.

"I was thinking the same thing about you," she replied.

She gazed at Charlie. She was in uniform but at some point after leaving the station, she'd taken her hair down and it was now cascading over her shoulders. She'd almost forgotten how stunning she was and found she was struggling to look away from her crystal blue eyes. She smiled at the blush rising in Charlie's cheeks.

"Come in," she said.

Charlie followed and waited politely while Joey shut the door and began to fuss about making drinks. Charlie told her she didn't want anything. She said it was because she'd had coffee at the station but in reality, she was so nervous that she was afraid of spilling.

"Okay," Joey said, leading the way through to the living room. "Well, we can just sit then."

They perched on either end of the sofa, both at the edge and both feeling tense. Joey licked her lips and struggled for a moment over what to say. She'd been feeling so confident up until now but with Charlie right there in front of her, she took her breath away.

"I've missed you," Charlie ventured.

"Even with your boyfriend?" Joey asked.

Charlie looked startled and guilt washed over her.

"It's okay, Charlie," she said. "I've been gone for a year. You're entitled to see other people."

They smiled shyly at each other.

"We broke up a few weeks ago," she said.

"Perfect timing," Joey said with a teasing smile that made Charlie bush.

She wondered silently if they could be together again. So much had happened and so much time had passed. Could they move on? Could they do it together?

"For the record," Charlie said. "I've always missed you. Whether I've been dating someone else or not, you've always been in my heart."

She gazed into Joey's eyes, more than willing to lay her soul bare.

"You're a pretty impossible person to get over," she added.

Joey smiled.

"Ditto," she said.

Charlie felt the strangest of sensations wash over her at the compliment and the way Joey looked at her. She seemed different somehow. And yet in so many ways she seemed the same.

"Have you... I mean, have you had other girlfriends and... stuff?" Charlie dared to ask.

"I wouldn't exactly call them girlfriends," Joey said. "But yeah, I have. I've changed a lot from the person you knew."

"How?"

"I'm stronger," she said. "I'm able to stand on my own two feet. I know who I am and what I want. I don't need anyone to protect me anymore."

She moved a little closer, not breaking eye contact. Barely breathing, she took both of Charlie's hands in hers. Charlie's lip trembled as she struggled to find some kind of response. What did Joey want? Was it her? She couldn't bear to dare to hope.

"So, the question now is... what do you want, Charlie?"

Charlie leant forward without thinking. She pressed her lips against Joey's. Joey dropped her hands to wrap her arms around her. They kissed with all the passion, love and grief that they'd been holding onto for so long. It was a long time before either of them drew away.