Guys,

Apologies for not updating this lately, I've been rather engrossed in my other FF, My Blue Butterfly, but I hope to do more regular updates of this from now on.

Xtr75, lol, she can have willpower in a story ;-) and yeah, Angelo is a worm! Quite right!

CJ4Eva, thank you, again! Yep, bye bye Angelo *waves*

Boo2you2, hello! Well, CJ have only been together for less than a week, and Joeys not quite been herself yet, so give it a few more days, and I'm sure she'll be heading over to the Bay!

Innocence4eva, thank you!

AJ. :-)

Chapter 21

On Wednesday evening, Charlie texted Joey from work. "Hi Jo. Hope you're having fun. Work's busy, can't wait to get home. I'll give you a quick ring at about 10.15 pm if that's ok. Let me know. Love, Charlie."

Joey looked at her message, smiled, and replied. "Just watching a DVD in bed. A call would be great. Try and have a good evening then. Love, Joey. XXX."

Charlie smiled as her phoned beeped, and she read the reply.

"Is that Joey?" Asked Constable Watson, who was working in Charlies office.

"Yeah." Charlie smiled, looking up. "It is."

"You two seem to be going from strength to strength. And it's only been a few days." Watson smiled, very happy for her boss.

"Yeah we are." Nodded Charlie happily. "It's just so great to be with her again. I don't think I've stopped smiling since she said she'd go out with me again."

"So it would seem." Watson replied, chuckling.

"Honestly Watson. We're just getting on so well again. Taking it slowly, obviously, but, God, it's been wonderful." Charlie gushed. "Joey's just so easy to talk to, and be with. She's wonderful." Charlie said dreamily.

Watson chuckled. "You seem to have all your colour back Charlie. You look a lot healthier, and obviously, a lot happier."

"Yeah." Charlie nodded. "I feel so alive again. I'm sleeping properly for the first time since Rubes moved out. I've started running again. I'm having some fun again, and I'm spending time with the person I want to spend the rest of my life with." She added. "And from what Joey tells me, she feels the same." She blushed slightly.

"Wow." Watson smiled. She knew her boss had been in love with Joey when she went out with her before, but she never spoke like this about her, or about their relationship. Obviously, Charlie messed up last time, and she was determined not to do the same again this time. "I hope it works out for you both." She said sincerely.

"Thanks Watson." Charlie smiled. "It will, I'm sure." Charlie stated confidently. "We both feel the same about each other, so unless I mess up again, it will be OK." She pursed her lips together. "And I am not going to mess this up this time. Joey is the love of my life, and we are meant to be together." She said determinedly.

"Well good for you." Watson nodded. "So. How is Joey, after the assault?"

Charlie frowned. "Well. As you can imagine, she was in a bit of shock to start with, because of what happened to her before. But, she was a lot, lot better this morning. Thank God." Charlie smiled. "Thanks for asking."

"Good." Watson said. "She had a tough time before, and I'm glad she's got you to help her through it again. I always did like Joey. She always seemed to be a very tough determined and lovely woman. She needed to be, to cope with what happened to her. You're very lucky Charlie."

Charlie smiled broadly. "Yeah I know. She's fantastic. And I'll be helping her every step of the way." Charlie confirmed. "Whatever she wants me to do."

Watson smiled. "Right then boss. Would you like a coffee, or shall we go out on patrol?"

"Umm. Let's have a coffee and then head out shall we?"

"Sure. Whatever you say." Watson smiled. "Coffee coming up." She said, before leaving Charlies office and making them coffees.

After they'd finished their patrol, Charlie went home. She said a quick hello to Leah, and then went to her room, lay on her bed, like a love sick teenager, and immediately called Joey. "Hi sweetie." She said softly down the phone, giggling a little when Joey answered.

"Hi Charlie." Joey said brightly. "Did you have a good shift?"

"Yeah. Not too bad thank you." Charlie replied. "Did you have a good evening?"

"Yeah. Marty cooked a spag bol for dinner, and we played Risk, and I won." Joey said proudly.

"That's my girl." Charlie chuckled. "How was the DVD?"

"It was OK. Not worth you watching it though. You didn't miss much."

"Oh well, we'll go to the cinema sometime, maybe next week, and catch a new release shall we?"

"Yeah. Good idea." Joey replied eagerly.

"We'll have to check our shifts again though." Chuckled Charlie.

"Yeah, we will." Joey smiled. "So, what time are you coming over tomorrow morning?" Joey asked softly, biting her lip in anticipation.

Charlie chuckled. "I can come over for breakfast if you like."

"That'd be nice." Joey said.

"I can bring some with me, and prepare it at yours, or we could walk to a cafe somewhere and have breakfast out." Charlie suggested some options.

"Umm, sounds good. Breakfast out would make a nice change. I haven't done that for a while." Joey pondered.

"Me either." Charlie smiled. "Good. So. What about that cafe where Megan works? Does that do breakfast?"

"Yeah, it does. It mainly does bacon rolls or cooked breakfasts, things like that. But there's a lovely little place that does pastries and croissants and good strong coffee, more of a continental type breakfast, if you fancy that instead?"

"Sounds lovely!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Yeah. It is." Joey smiled.

"It's a date then." Chuckled Charlie.

"I'm getting used to this." Joey smiled.

"Good. Because we have millions more ahead of us."

"I'm counting on it." Joey replied. "Although I don't think either of us will make a million dates." She chuckled.

Charlie replied softly. "I wish I could have a million dates with you."

"Me too." Joey chuckled. "But I think we'll have to settle for a few thousand instead. Unless they find the fountain of eternal youth."

"Well, we can have a date every hour, that'll mean we fit loads in." Charlie laughed.

"Good thinking." Joey chuckled.

"I try." Charlie laughed.

"I was thinking." Joey said.

"Yes?"

"As we've got counselling on Friday, would you like to stay over tomorrow night, you know like before, after work? It means you won't be rushing around Friday morning." Joey asked quietly. She held her breath as she waited for Charlie to respond. She'd loved Charlie staying over the other day, and having a more practicable solution as an excuse for her to stay over again, was ideal.

Charlie smiled broadly, not that Joey could see her. Her heart got suddenly warmer in her chest, and beat that little bit faster, as Joey asked her to stay over again. She hadn't wanted to pressure Joey about anything, so the fact that Joey was asking her was great as far as she was concerned.

Charlie giggled, and blushed slightly, getting all hot under the collar. "If you're sure you don't mind again. That'd be lovely." She said huskily.

"OK. Good." Joey replied, releasing her held breath.

"I'll pack my overnight bags now then." Charlie said. "Ready for me to bring over tomorrow morning with me. If that's OK."

"That'll be fine." Joey replied happily. "If it wasn't, I wouldn't have asked."

Charlie smiled. "I know." She replied softly. "But thank you Jo."

"No need to thank me." Joey smiled. "Just make sure you can carry all your luggage." She giggles. "Because your bags were very heavy last time."

"Watch it." Laughed Charlie. "You know I had to bring several changes of clothes."

"Yeah I do. I'm only teasing."

"I know." Charlie smiled.

"Umm, Charlie, they'll be no need to bring towels this time, you can use some of mine."

"If you're sure."

"I am."

"Thank you Jo." Charlie said, before adding. "That'll leave me some space for some more clothes."

Joey giggled cutely back at her down the phone. "On second thoughts, maybe you should bring your own towels then."

Charlie chuckled. "Don't worry Jo. I'll pack rationally and sensibly."

"Good." Laughed Joey.

"So. I guess I'd better wish you goodnight, and let you get your head down."

"Yeah. I guess." Sighed Joey.

"Night then Jo. Sleep well. I'll see you for breakfast."

"Yeah. Night Charlie. See you round here first thing then."

"Love you Jo." Charlie said softly.

"I love you too Charlie. Sleep well."

"Bye."

"Bye." With that, they both reluctantly hung up. They both sighed, but it was a happy, smiling sigh.

Charlie got changed and had a quick shower, so she didn't have to have one in the morning, as she was getting up early to go to Joeys. She packed some changes of clothes for work and leisure and for sleeping in, along with her wash kit, and a pair of sandals, trainers and Converse sneakers.

Joey set her alarm, switched her light off, and went to sleep, cuddling up to her spare pillow.

Charlie set her alarm, and switched off her lamp, and went to sleep, cuddling up to her spare pillow.