Chapter 14

Beers in one hand and iPod and speakers in the other, Charlie made her way back up on deck, nervous of how the next part of the day she had planned would go. As she got back on deck she saw Joey staring out into the ocean, a smile painted beautifully upon her face. Charlie had to take a deep breath and pinch herself just to remind herself that it was really happening; Joey really was here with her. 'Beautiful, talented, gorgeous Joey is here with me,' she repeated to herself. After placing the iPod and speakers down she went back to Joey.

"Beer honey?" Charlie offered, surprising both herself and Joey at her use of 'honey.'

"Mmm yes please babe, I'd love one" Joey answered, taking a bottle from Charlie. "By the way Charlie, I haven't said it yet but today has been amazing…" Joey grinned. "… such a sweet and thoughtful hiring out the Blaxland."

"I'm glad you think so, but the day's not over yet! Not by a long stretch."

"I don't see how the it can get any better to be honest" Joey said smiling, biting her bottom lip slightly.

"Do you mind if I put some music on Joey?" Charlie asked, eager for the moment she had been replaying in her head for the last three months to finally happen the way she dreamed it. Over at the iPod, Charlie selected the playlist she had put together the night before, making sure the 'special' songs were a few minutes in, heightening the surprise for Joey. After the music started to play, Charlie sat herself back down next to Joey. They clinked bottles and said cheers to one another.

"I'm really starting to see what you mean Joey, out here it's so peaceful and calm, so beautiful, it's like another world entirely." Charlie smiled.

"I'm glad to hear it! But yeah, it totally is. There are only two places I feel safe and at peace, and out here is one of them." Joey said quietly.

"And where's the other one?" Charlie asked, genuinely curious to know.

"With you." Joey stated simply and truthfully, looking into Charlie's deep piercing blue eyes; eyes deep enough to lose herself in. Charlie smiled and gently moved her hand, so that it was now resting on top of Joey's knee, Joey responded by placing her hand on top of Charlie's. Together they sat in silence, listening to the beautiful music and staring out to sea. Charlie couldn't remember a time when she had felt such love in her heart.

Dash and Will, 'Pick You Up' started playing.

"Charlie! Did you know this one was on here?" Joey asked, jumping to her feet.

"…hmmm.. Well… I might have done." Charlie said, trying to act somewhat innocent but clearly failing.

"And just when I thought you could get any cuter Senior Constable." Jpoey kissed Charlie on the cheek. "Come on then lets dance!" Joey grinned, pulling Charlie up onto her feet. They danced frantically, knowing no one could -see them and they could do as they pleased. They continued to dance, not caring what they looked like. They kept their hands entwined as they danced, needing to remain close to one another. The Dash and Will song soon stopped and was followed by the Blanche Dubois song 'Love Only Hurts.'

"Charl-"

"-Joey" Charlie interrupted, her eyes starting to well up. Taking hold of Joey's hands with her own, she used all the inner strength she had to compose herself and say what she had to. "Joey in the last three months I've replayed this moment so many times in my head, and not once did I run away. That day on this very boat was the first time I realised the extent if my feelings for you; the first time I realised that I loved you, and it scared me, because loving someone, it's not simple or easy. And realising that your heart belongs to someone else means that you don't have control over it anymore. So I ran. I ran from what I was feeling, not from you; I need you to know that Joey. But today is the way it should have happened."

"I understand Charlie, now lets just enjoy the song the way we should of the first time, and replace the memory of that day with the memory of today…"

"Okay" Charlie agreed, amazed at just how kind and loving Joey was. And so they danced, slowly and lovingly.

Suddenly, holding Charlie's hand, and staring into her piercing blue eyes, bright blue windows into her soul, Joey's world snapped back into focus. They moved closer and embraced, their chests pressed close together; hearts within inches of each other. Joeys head, usually brimming with a million thoughts, was now crystal clear. She heard not the sound of the water lapping -against the side of the boat, nor the gentle guitar sounds emanating from the speakers. All she heard was Charlie's heart beating in time with her own, and her grandmothers voice being replayed in her head with the wise words she had whispered to her many years ago.

"Don't be afraid to give your heart to someone Joey, don't run away from love, don't get to my age and have regrets for the life you could have had, should have had, almost had."

Joey had never forgotten those words, and it had never felt more apt. Right now, with Charlie, she knew this was the place she would stay forever if she could; in the arms of the woman she loved.

As the song neared it's end, Charlie moved her head that had been resting on Joey's shoulder and pulled away slightly until she was able to look Joey in the eye. Joey lent forward, closed her eyes and rested her forehead on Charlie's. Charlie was now so close to Joey that Joey could feel her warm breath on her cheeks, and feeling like the most natural thing in the world, they kissed - they kissed for several minutes, not out of passion or lust but out of sheer love.

The sun was slowly starting to set, throwing a blanket of deep orange on red on everything underneath it. Charlie was sitting on the floor of the Blaxland, on top of a mountain of cushions and Joey was sat in between Charlie's legs, resting against her head against Charlie's chest.

"I'm so tempted to jump in the water right now, I love swimming in the sea! It's so refreshing!"

"D'you know I don't think that I have ever been swimming in the sea, well at least not this far out."

"What? If you haven't dived off a boat into the sea then you seriously haven't lived! And that is soooo going to change right now!" Joey grinned, jumping up, pulling both herself and Charlie up to their feet and rushing over to the side of the boat…

AllHopeIsNotLost