Thank you again to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. Finally we draw to a close...

Chapter Ten

Charlie called in sick to work. She was sufficiently stressed that it felt valid. The hours had passed far too slowly and she hadn't slept a wink. Joey had never come home, leaving Charlie fretful about what she'd been doing and where she'd gone. All she could think about was Joey returning to Lauren's arms.

***

"Hey," Lauren said awkwardly when Joey approached.

Joey was tired, uncomfortable and agitated. She didn't bother to smile.

"Look about last night," Lauren began.

"Last night, you pretty much wrecked my life," Joey said bitterly.

"I… Did you and Charlie…?"

"I think we're pretty much over."

Joey could barely choke out the words.

"Well, you were always too good for her anyway," Lauren said, stepping forward.

She reached out her hands to Joey, who stepped back.

"You have no idea what I've lost."

"Well, you could always gain something out of it. I mean, you and I do have a connection, Joey. You can't deny that. Maybe we could…"

"We don't have a connection, Lauren! We never did. I'm in love with Charlie and nobody could ever change that, least of all you! I mean, did you seriously think there was something between us? Are you insane?" Joey ranted. "You versus Charlie? Are you kidding me? You don't even come close!"

"Joey…" Lauren said, painfully aware that Joey was shouting and the rest of the crew were now gawping at them.

"I want my final wage right now," Joey said.

"We can work through this if you just give me a minute to explain."

"I don't want your explanation. I don't want your job. And I don't want you. I need my final wage and I'm gone."

Joey was visibly shaking. She felt like she'd done more shouting over the past couple of weeks than she ever had in her life.

"I'll take you to the bank," Lauren said, resigned to the fact that she'd lost her.

***

Charlie jumped when she heard the door close. She listened as footsteps padded towards the bedroom. Joey pushed open the door and hovered, looking tired and drained and yet somehow, still breathtakingly beautiful.

"You were right. I'm sorry," she said, not coming any further into the room.

Charlie swallowed and looked in Joey's eyes.

"I've got everything wrong about this. I didn't listen to you when you were telling me about Lauren. I wasn't aware enough to stop her from kissing me. It honestly lasted for less than a second, Charlie. As soon as I realised what was happening, I pulled away. And it wasn't a case of me choosing her over you. When you hit her, I just panicked. You know I don't cope with violence very well. I can't even watch thrillers or horror films because it's too much for me. And I understand why you were tempted to go with someone else," Joey explained. "You thought I'd betrayed you, that everything was lost. But I'm grateful you didn't go through with it. I'm glad you loved me enough to stop. I'm so sorry for everything. Please don't leave me."

"Leave you?" Charlie asked in shock. "I'd never leave you. I thought you were leaving me."

Joey shook her head and stepped further into the room. She hovered by the bed.

"I'm sorry for everything, Joey," Charlie said. "Can we just get back to normal?"

Joey perched on the bed, never breaking eye contact. She nodded.

"I quit my job," Joey said.

"You did?"

"I love my work. Everyone knows that. But you mean more to me than any career I could ever have. You mean more to me than anything in the world."

Charlie smiled and reached for Joey's hands.

"And you mean the world to me," she assure her, pulling her closer for a kiss.

Joey fell into Charlie's embrace, grateful that everything was resolved.

"I guess our trip's on hold," Charlie said, not really minding.

"No, I've saved up enough and that's all still on. Although I'll need to find a different boat owner to hire from."

Charlie smiled and clung to Joey.

"So, we're okay?"

"We're almost perfect."

"Almost?" Charlie asked curiously.

"I was um… I was going to do this while we were away," she said awkwardly. "That was the whole point. I know this isn't the most romantic situation in the world and I don't even have flowers or anything but… well, the thing is that I… I don't even have a speech prepared."

Charlie caressed Joey's face to try and calm her panic.

"I love you more than anything else in the world," Joey said. "You're my everything, Charlie. You saved me four years ago and you brought happiness back to my life when I didn't think it was possible. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Charlie looked at Joey quizzically as she slipped onto the floor on one knee. Startled, she realised that Joey had been clutching a small box in her hand.

"I know it won't be legally binding or anything but… will you marry me?"

Charlie let her mouth hang open, feeling stunned. Joey looked at her nervously.

"Will you?" she asked.

"Of course I will!" Charlie exclaimed.

Joey broke out into a joyful smile and launched herself back into Charlie's arms, smothering her with kisses. Finally pausing, she took the ring out of the box and placed it on Charlie's waiting finger.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you more," Charlie replied.

***

"So, do you think they'll be okay?" Xavier asked as he and Ruby arrived back at Ruby's house.

Ruby had been fretting about Charlie and Joey all day, not wanting them to break up. It had taken her a little bit of time to get her head around the idea of them as a couple when they'd first go together but now, as far as Ruby was concerned, she had gained another sister.

"I hope so. I'd better go check on Charlie actually. She called in sick today and I doubt she's managed much aside from crying."

Xavier nodded as Ruby wandered towards Charlie's room. He bolted in her direction when he heard her shriek. Standing in the doorway, both were witness to two naked women frozen in panic.

"Have you heard of closing the door?" Ruby squeaked.

Joey was painfully aware that she was still directly on top of Charlie but couldn't move for fear of exposing them both further. Ruby made an incoherent noise and hurried away. Xavier continued to stare until Ruby pulled him roughly away.

"That was seriously hot," he commented.

Ruby looked disgusted.

"No it wasn't! There was thrusting! And gasping! And I can't even bear to think where Joey's hand was!"

She shuddered.

"Very, very hot," Xavier concluded.

She slapped him on the arm.

"That's my sister you're talking about!" she protested.

***

"Oops," Joey said, pulling an awkward face.

She moved to get up and close the door that was still wide open but Charlie held her immobile.

"Don't even think about moving," she warned.

"But, the door…" Joey protested.

"Do I look like I care right about now?"

Charlie kissed her.

"As you were!" she ordered.

Joey giggled and continued what she'd be doing before they were so rudely interrupted, finally relaxing when she heard the door closing quietly on them.

***

A couple of hours later, the two women emerged sheepishly from the bedroom, fully clothed. Xavier and Ruby were watching television.

"You made up then!" Ruby commented, not looking up at them.

Charlie and Joey perched on the other seat.

"Yeah," Charlie said quietly. "Sorry about before. We uh… lost track of time."

"And the concept of other people living here."

Xavier just grinned, remembering what he'd scene.

"Sorry," Joey said.

"Yeah, sorry," Charlie agreed.

Ruby sighed.

"As much as that was a visual I could seriously have lived without, mostly I'm just happy that you've stopped fighting. And it's for good this time, yeah?"

Charlie and Joey both grinned at the same time.

"Actually, we've made up very much for good," Charlie said, offering up her newly ringed finger.

"Oh my... Wow!" Ruby shrieked.

Their smiles grew wider.

"Congratulations," Xavier said warmly.

"I'd hug both but I know where you've just been," Ruby said, still high pitched, her hands fidgeting with excitement.

Charlie and Joey both laughed and held hands.

"Oh, forget it. I can blank it out!"

She leapt into a group hug.

"Do I get to be bridesmaid?" she asked when she withdrew.

"Obviously," Joey said.

"This is the best turnout there could ever have been!" Ruby declared.

***

The evening drew to a close. Ruby had gone beyond the point of elation and Leah had come home to the news and been almost as excited. Now, alone in their bedroom, Joey pulled Charlie close and wrapped her arms around her.

"Are you sure you're happy?" she checked.

"I couldn't even begin to explain how happy I am," Charlie replied.

Joey smiled.

"I'm sorry that I put you through so much stress while I was trying to arrange this," Joey said, looking down.

"Now is not the time for apologies," Charlie told her, tilting Joey's head back up to face her.

"And the trip wasn't a lie," Joey added. "We're still going. I was going to propose there. I had it all worked out in my head. But sometimes the best laid plans need altering. I hope you don't mind."

"It was perfect."

They kissed.

"I love you," they said in unison.

THE END