Happy New Year to all!

Apologies for the delay with the updating. My Christmas workload was a lot higher than usual (i.e. I had to do some) and the pile hasn't gotten much smaller. Hopefully my schedule will go back to normal now and updates will continue as planned. For those of you desperate to see Joey, I promise it won't be long!!

Thank you for reviewing and sticking with me :)

/Eversong

The evening was going well as far as Charlie was concerned. Jess had met a lot of the people she had hoped she would and Leah had definitely done enough food. Finishing a conversation with Martha and Rachel, she scanned the room for Jess to see who she was talking to and hoped she didn't need rescuing from anyone – thinking mostly about Colleen. She found her talking to Hugo and Alf in one corner.

"Hey you, everything okay?" Charlie beamed at Jess.

"Yeah great thanks, just sorting out a meeting with Hugo here."

"Hugo, she's not meant to be working can't you do that another time?" Hugo opened his mouth not sure what to say to defend himself, but Jess beat him to it.

"It's okay Charlie, I don't mind. Let's call it 'networking'." Charlie looked between the two of them, feeling a little embarrassed after she had told Jess her history with Hugo but comforted by Alf's presence. Jess added to placate Charlie further, "I'm technically on-call twenty-four seven anyway so in comparison to what I could be doing arranging a meeting it fine with me." She smiled at Charlie, hoping that she would let it rest at that. She had noticed the way Charlie had looked between the two of them and she hoped to convey with her look that it was okay and that she wasn't judging her, As if to re-iterate her 'on-call' job description Jess's phone rang. She looked at the screen and it flashed up that her colleague Andrew was calling. "Speaking of, can you excuse me I need to take this." She looked apologetically at Charlie, who gently touched her arm as she walked off towards the back of the house to take the call.

Ruby watched the interaction between her sister and her new friend. She followed Jess from a distance and allowed her to finish her call before walking out of the back door to join her.

"Hey Ruby." Jess smiled and gave a small wave.

"Hey." Ruby looked a little solemn, Jess altered her facial expression to a more quizzical one, Taking her queue to continue Ruby spoke again. "Is Charlie flirting with you?" Taken aback by the question Jess stared a little open mouthed long enough for Ruby to elaborate. "It's okay if she is, I just thought, you know, Joey." Jess found her words.

"She loves Joey. Even if she is flirting a little bit. Maybe I am too. But it doesn't mean anything, trust me. If anything it's a sign that Charlie is testing out her feelings. If she's comfortable doing that then maybe she's started to figure herself out." Ruby looked thoughtful at what Jess had said. "And trust me, there's no way either of us could go there! She has Joey, I have my dead wife -" Jess tried to be flippant but the words caught in her throat.

"Hey, I'm sorry are you okay?" It was Jess's turn for honesty.

"No. I've tried so hard to make it better. I've come out of hibernation, I've made friends, I've got a more demanding job to focus on. I just can't let go of her. I miss her so much." Ruby grabbed hold of her friend and hugged her tightly. Still holding Jess she spoke into her.

"I am so sorry I didn't mean to accuse you of -"

"It's okay, I am trying not to drag everyone else down with me. You never knew her, it's not fair. I just -" Having no words left Jess pulled away from Ruby. "I'm okay, really."

"I don't believe you." Ruby responded just before Charlie came to find the two of them.

"Hey, Ruby isn't holding you hostage is she?" Jess smiled and looked in Charlie's direction.

"No, no. Younger Buckton and I were just partaking in a little conversation." Ruby giggled at Jess but was painfully aware of what they had been talking about.

"Was the work thing important?" Jess looked at her phone still in her hand.

"Nope, just Andrew back from the hospital." Both girls looked at her. "Oh nothing like that, he thought his wife went into labour earlier. It turned out not to be so just letting me know he's around again. So, is there anyone interesting at this party or am I stuck with only the two of you for company this evening?" Both Ruby and Charlie playfully hit one of Jess's arms each and they all made their way back inside the house. Ruby keeping a close eye on her sister, while she hoped Jess was right she was terrified Charlie was going to hurt more people if she didn't sort herself out soon,

With the evening drawing to a close, Jess was left talking to Tony, Alf and Hugo as everyone started to say thank you and make their way home. Ruby noticed the group on the couch and decided to shift them as politely as she could.

"Right boys, party's over. Unless you're wielding a broom or a cloth it's time to go."

"Ah sorry Rubes, didn't see the time." Tony apologised. "We'll be off then, thanks again and it was lovely to meet you Jess." The others muttered much the same and thanked Leah and Charlie as they made their way out the house. Jess rose with them and offered to help clean up.

"Thanks but I think we're okay here; no one was particularly unruly." Leah responded. Charlie looked at Leah and felt a pinch of anger that she had given Jess an excuse to leave. She caught herself before the thought could take form and carried on disposing of empty cans.

"In that case I might get off then, I better get some sleep in case Andrew's misses goes into labour for real this time!" Charlie walked with Jess over to the door to see her out,

"Are you working all day tomorrow?" Charlie asked, though not sure why.

"Pretty much, got a couple of jobs booked for the morning and I said I'd see Hugo after lunch. I'm going to be working a lot these next few weeks." Charlie looked disappointed and responded,

"Well, let me know if you have time for lunch one day, and I'll come and find you." Both women smiled and Jess nodded in agreement.

"Goodnight Leah, goodnight Ruby!" Jess shouted and received responses from beyond the kitchen.

"Goodnight Charlie." Jess said and leant forward to kiss Charlie on the cheek. Charlie blushed slightly as she waved at Jess walking down the path and out of sight,