For B & J and another day in Sydney soon.....

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Joey's heart lodged in her throat and her eyes clung to Charlie's face as Charlie's words reverberated wildly through her head.

Joey had never had the audacity, to let herself truly believe, that Charlie may still love her. Now, hearing Charlie tell her ingenuously that she did, was both exhilarating and terrifying, all in one moment.

With the silence acutely killing her, Charlie stole a quick glance back at Joey and wedged her trembling hands, firmly under her knees.

"I never stopped loving you either." Joey spoke very quietly. Her glazed eyes on the ground before her. Unsure if she was really ready to open up to Charlie.

"But..., I stomped all over your trust?" Charlie finished the sentence for her.

"Yeah, a fair bit."

They caught each others eye.

"I am really sorry Jo."

"I know you are Charlie." Joey let her eyes fall from Charlie's face. "You know, it's not even the sleeping with Hugo that I have a problem with."

"It's the fact that I lied to you about it.., I know." Charlie again finished Joey's sentence.

Joey was silent as this perceptive and honest Charlie, yet again, pleasantly surprised her.

Charlie felt nerves and butterflies beat on her chest.

There was a declaration of love from both sides but it came with a world of turmoil and that turmoil was now hanging in the air.

"Look Joey, you just wanted to come to the city and get drunk. To forget about your troubles and all that. So if you're still up for it.., lets just go and do, just that."

Charlie stood up and gingerly took one step away from the bench. She was keen to change the subject, her nerves building over what she had so blatantly laid on the table.

Joey watched Charlie step away. She wanted to have the conversation but at the same time she didn't. She let her eyes sweep out over the ocean before she pushed herself up and off the bench.

"I just don't think I'm ready Charlie." Joey tried to explain. "I feel..., confused."

"I know Jo, I know." Charlie draped her arm protectively across Joey's shoulder, pulling her in briefly and gently as she did.

They continued their walk in comfortable silence. With Joey stealing several secret glances at Charlie.

They never stopped in Bronte for lunch. As each was to nervous to eat.

They simply wound their way around Tamarama, then down the final flights of stairs and past the Bondi Icebergs.

As the golden curve of Bondi Beach spread out before her, Joey turned to Charlie and cheekily asked. "Can I have my beer now?"

And just like that the pressure of their earlier moment was broken.

"Ab-so-bloody-lute-ly Jo." Charlie smiled.

They walked across the road and entered the first bar they found.

"So." Charlie ventured. "Do you want to stay in the city? Or, have I scared you enough for one day and you just want to head home?" She shyly asked.

Joey took a mouthful of her beer while keeping her eyes on Charlie.

"I'm still up for a day out if you are."

Charlie beamed and reached into her bag for the TimeOut. "Where to next then?"

"Lets just wander down Oxford Street Charlie. No planning. No organisation. It's an adventure remember."

"OK."

They both drank. An easy silence falling between them.

Charlie stood up and headed for the door. "I'm just going to call Ruby and let her know I won't be home tonight."

Joey watched her go. Admiring her from behind.

"All set." Charlie announced as she placed herself back on the stool next to Joey. A grin broadly bursting across her face. "I've also book somewhere to stay."

"What? Where?"

"You said you don't know the city Jo, so I'm guessing you won't know the hotel..."

Charlie loved the surprised look on Joey's face and Joey, could see on Charlie's face that she wouldn't be told anything further.

"Lets go then." Joey excitedly said.

A half hour later, they fell off bus 380 around Taylor Square and headed straight to Gilligan's on the first floor of the Oxford Hotel.

Charlie left Joey at a table by the window while she went to the bar.

She was soon back placing two vodka shots on the table, while the bar tender followed her over with two espresso martini's.

The looked at each other shyly. A whole conversation, still hanging in the air.

"To Sydney." Charlie raised her shot glass and broke the silence.

They clinked and downed the clear liquid. Both pulling faces as they did.

"To Sydney." Joey repeated.

The espresso martini turned into a passionfruit martini, which turned into vodka, lime and soda. The idea being the soda would refresh them. Their eyes began to blur.

Leaving Gilligan's, they went in search of something to eat. Splitting a pizza and washing it down with simple water.

As day became night they headed back out onto Oxford Street and wondered aimlessly as intended.

It was the squealing crowd and the abundant whistles that dragged them from the street and into The Stonewall Hotel.

Pausing at the bar they downed two more vodka shots. They then carried their vodka, lime and soda's and squeezed themselves through the heaving crowd.

Finding a tight space wedged between boys with their tops off. They cheered each other and drank thirstily from their glasses. Both were soon lost to the drag show before them.

Charlie was watching Joey as she laughed and smiled and sang along. She smiled to herself and felt her heart as it beat crazily in her chest.

Joey absently drank from her glass and turning slightly, caught Charlie's eye.

They became momentarily lost on one other, as wild thoughts roamed through each mind.

The crowd around them continued to laugh and applaud the Drag Queens strutting about on the stage.

With their eyes now firmly locked, Joey instinctively reached her hand out.

She gently found Charlie's and their fingers took hold of each other shyly.

At the feel of Joey's hand, Charlie's breath caught hard in her throat and butterflies ripped through her stomach, before cascading across her heart.

She never removed her eyes from Joey's face as she pulled gently and Joey moved cautiously over.

She turned Joey softly in her arms then pulled her back.

With Joey's back now pulled firmly into Charlie's front, Charlie lent forward.

She let her eyes close as she kissed Joey lingeringly on the cheek. Breathing her in as she did.

Joey let herself be pulled further back. She let her free hand come to rest on top of Charlie's. Which lay across her stomach.

As Charlie's lips landed softly on Joey's cheek, Joey also closed her eyes and squeezed gently on Charlie's hand.

She tilted her head softly into Charlie's kiss and listened as Charlie breathed her in.

Charlie drew her head back and placed her drink down on a nearby table.

She wrapped both her arms around Joey's waist, squeezing her softly. She was completely lost to and enjoying the feel of Joey's weight, as it continued to fall heavily against her.

Joey let herself be wrapped up in Charlie's arms.

She then let her head fall back against Charlie's shoulder.

This is how they remained.

Closely snuggled in each others arms, until the show had ended and the Drag Queens had all left the stage.