Ah apologies! As you've waited so long here's the first half of the chapter to let you know I haven't forgotten you. Just written it so will finish the rest later. Think I might be getting some motivation back for this fic. I hope you understand and stick with me! If you have lost interest let me know because I won't bother doing the next part then. Thanks =]=]

xxx

Joey shifted her gaze from the sheet in her shaking hands to find Ruby watching her. Her head was spinning she didn't know what to think. Where had all this come out of, and what did it mean? It was the first time she had heard of any of this, and she was baffled.

"Ruby what's going on here?" Joey probed; her voice timid.

Ruby stood uneasily, things weren't meant to turn out this way and she definitely wasn't meant to be the one doing the explaining. "Joey I… Charlie's in her room, she's waiting to talk to you. You weren't meant to find out like this."

She didn't know how to react, because of yet she didn't know what was going on, keeping her eyes on Ruby she tossed the letter back into the bin; she didn't know how to react to something she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. Joey made to walk passed Ruby when she felt her taking hold of her arm. They were side by side. Joey raised her gaze to meet Ruby's.

"Joey don't be mad at her." Ruby begged mistaking Joeys torment for anger.

"Ruby, I'm not angry. I'm just sad Charlie has felt the need to live a lie."

Feeling the younger girl loosen her grasp, with angst Joey walked towards their bedroom.

Charlie sat anxiously on the edge of their bed, oblivious to any of the commotion in the kitchen. The time had come to talk to Joey and to finally confide in her. She didn't want Joey to feel left out or hurt at her secret keeping. Truth be known she wasn't intentionally hiding her past from Joey; she was keeping it at bay to protect Ruby and save herself from any more unnecessary heart ache. It had happened many years ago and every time it raised its head Charlie was sent back to the day it had all taken place. But now the time had come, and no matter how many times Charlie tried to keep it buried; now Joey needed to know.

Charlie jumped nervously as the door creaked open and Joey entered.

Joey didn't know whether to sit on the bed beside Charlie or to stay standing. She had so much going though her head right now and she wasn't sure if she should let Charlie know she was after finding the letter or not.

"Joey I need to tell you something, I should have told you long ago but somehow time slipped by… I never planned on it being a secret, the more I tried to keep it in the past, the more I ended up lying to you and I seemed to just get myself into a bigger and bigger mess."

Feeling Charlie's upset Joey went over and sat beside, her yet at the same time giving Charlie some space. She took a deep breath.

"Charlie, it doesn't matter now…" Joey replied sincerely, her heart bleeding for the love of her life.

"It does Joey, you need to understand it was never my intention to hurt you and keep this huge secret from you. I've never known any other way to deal with things… It's all I know."

Lifting her head ever so slightly, their eyes locked. Charlie licked her lower lip worriedly and inhaled deeply.

Joey leant across the small gap between them and took Charlie's hands in hers. They were cold and clammy, letting Joey see how troubled she really was.

This was all the encouragement Charlie needed to continue…