"Happily Never After"
Holy crap - I can't believe this fic has now reached 400 reviews! Huge milestone guys so thanks to everyone for making the effort :P
First off - HUGE shout out to Ijustkeepswimming for bringing up that milestone...when she finally gets to this chapter that is! :P Ten or so reviews in a row as she's just started reading this fic. Seriously thought something was wrong when I saw that many reviews in my inbox lol! Don't stop now IJKS - keep 'em coming!
JSCO81 - Great idea with the beanie! Slightly close in that it's something Joey loves but not quite :P
Musician17 - Eh I'll admit it - these pair can be a bit of a dumb duo most of the time but yes that does make them perfect for one another :P Bwa ha ha to the monkey idea! And yes you are making it up to me with recent reviews so keep it up!
Kirsty87 - Lovin' this fic - can't get a better review than that so thanks!
CJ4eva - Yes slight trouble is coming up but sometimes things need to get worse to get better - it's my logic and I'm sticking to it lol!
Tutie - Thanks! Hope you enjoy what's coming up for CJ over the next few chapters
Mellbell86 - Sorry couldn't resist with the whole 'I love...your shirt' lol! Classic Joey! I have the sense only...um everyone wants them to be back together by the time the year's out lol! Well no more thinking required on the gifts - read on!
Oniz197 - Great ideas for where you want the girls to be by next year. Charlie carrying their second child - so cute! We'll see... :P There is a small amount of clarity coming up at the end of this one for both of them...
And lastly - Oniz has announced she's shouting all my readers and reviewers drinks! Apparently my 'great' writing has something to do with it but I'm not too sure about that. Lil bit modest about my writing but I won't knock back compliments like that...especially if they come with drinks!
So drink up guys...you might need it to get through this chapter but I can promise you after the 'sparkage' this last exercise causes between CJ we'll finally see a shift in their relationship by chapters end...so read on to see what this shift entails... :P
Oh and keep those reviews coming - 500 reviews isn't too far away lol!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Joey read the card aloud:
4) Tell your wife three things you dislike about her or things you wish she could change to save your marriage.
"Ha!" Joey snorted, "Now this is divorce counselling. What was the point of the other three when this one could create some serious damage? Hasn't Anna learnt anything from our fights?" Charlie swallowed hard, "It doesn't really say that does it?" Joey flicked the card to Charlie who read it herself.
Sighing heavily, Charlie sadly placed the card down, not sure of the reason for this exercise, "Well...I mean we can avoid the damage or fight...by just not doing these exercises. I mean Anna's not forcing us to...she just thought they could help. Maybe we should just...ditch this one and head back to the Bay."
Joey pursed her lips, "I resent the fact you abandoned me and Riley."
"Joey!" Charlie looked at her stunned, "I thought you were afraid of the damage this could cause." Joey shrugged, "Well we were given this exercise for a reason. Either it'll help us clear the air between us or...it'll... You're the one that insisted on doing the divorce counselling Charlie, so I think we should do this exercise. I've done the rest for you, least you can do is allow us to get some truths out in the open." Charlie's eyes shifted towards the sky, trying to blink away the tears welling up in her eyes, "So you resent me?"
Joey bit her lip nervously, "I resent that you immersed yourself in your work and abandoned us. I would change that about you. You left us for days at a time, nights at a time on our own. You left me to raise our son on my own because you...couldn't stand to be around me...what did I do that was so wrong that you preferred spending all your time away from me? You love your work more than your family, and I resent the fact that it took something like Riley nearly dying before you realized just how much we needed you around."
"Joey it wasn't anything you did that was wrong--" Charlie tried to explain. Joey held up her hand, "You know what? This exercise could really do some damage...so maybe we should just tell each other the truth about our resentments without any arguing at the end of each one. We be honest about our own feelings, then if we want to turn this into World War III we do that after we've completed this exercise."
"Fine," Charlie agreed angrily, "I hate the fact you wouldn't even talk to me before you left and walked out on me. You wouldn't give me a chance to fight for my family. You just walked out and took my son with you. You had his bags all packed and you just grabbed them and him and put him in the car...you wouldn't even let me say goodbye...you wouldn't let me explain to him that this wasn't what I wanted. You just took him. So what if you insisted that it wasn't goodbye and I'd see him soon? That wasn't good enough, he's my son too. What did you think taking him away from me would do? I wasn't the only one who made mistakes, but you took action and left me alone...without my wife or child. I didn't think fighting for you would change your mind so yes I continued working long hours at the station...I didn't have anyone to come home to.
I mean yes I had Ruby and she did what she could...but she couldn't fill that void in my heart. And it's not like I could just pop over to Aden's whenever I wanted to see my son. You made things perfectly clear you wanted space...so I gave you that...but you didn't come home. I know now that's because you thought I was hooking up with Angelo, but that's not good enough. We were married Joey, you were supposed to talk to me about feeling abandoned...not just walk out on me and take our child with you. You forced me into being the weekend parent...you didn't give me a chance for anything more. I'd change that about you...make you give our marriage a second chance before you walked away."
Joey swallowed hard, taking in Charlie's words difficultly, but that didn't stop her from fighting back, "I resent the fact that you never let me into your decisions to turn down job promotions. You never even bothered to tell me about any of them until after I left you and you tried to use that as some kind of proof that we were more important than your work. We had a right as a family to decide whether or not we should move to the city so you could take one of these opportunities. I was happy for you when you got your promotion to Sergeant three years ago, why wouldn't I be happy that you were offered jobs at some of the stations in the City?
I know I love this town and I love my own job but I would've given them up if you really wanted to move back to the City. Maybe it'd be great for Riley to grow up there. And maybe if you'd been working at a bigger station that was highly staffed you wouldn't have been put under the pressure you've been under here. Maybe you wouldn't have been working all the time and...I wouldn't have had to leave you. But you took it upon yourself to make these decisions without me. If this marriage can be saved you need to start including me."
Charlie sighed, "I hate how close you and Aden are. I resent that over the past year or so you never once turned to me. Instead you went to your best friend. I know I was working too hard and I was never there for you...I just didn't realize it until it was too late. You could have come to me and told me you felt abandoned. I knew things were bad between us but if I had of known just how bad things were...that you were considering a separation...I would've given my job up in a heartbeat to be with you and Riley. I'm jealous that you kept turning to Aden for support. I know he's your best friend...but I hate the thought of you discussing our marital problems with anyone other than me. I bet he thought it was real funny and that I was just some frigid loser when you told him I couldn't even sleep with you."
Joey raised her eyebrow, "You think I told him about that? I haven't told anyone about that, I was too embarrassed that I'm not enough for you. Trust me, I don't want anyone knowing that my wife isn't even attracted to me anymore." "Wait you think I don't find you attractive which is why I couldn't sleep with you?" Charlie asked, "Jo...It wasn't like that...I was the one that was feeling...too self confidant about being with you. I don't even know why. I was just...too afraid that I didn't deserve you. It was not about you."
Joey looked down at the ground, "So you're saying we were both too vulnerable to put ourselves in that position of being together after what we'd being through...and we've been blaming ourselves because we both thought we were too scared to admit...we had similar insecurities that the other didn't want us?" "Looks like," Charlie sighed, "I guess maybe we should've talked about this earlier."
"Well maybe this whole talking about our problems is why we were given this task," Joey commented, then exhaling deeply, "Two down...one to go. I don't like the fact that after we separated...you made Ruby choose sides. Ruby wasn't just my step-daughter Charlie, she was one of my best friends, and wouldn't have just stopped talking to me for several months on her own accord. I know I hurt her too when I left...but that wasn't fair of you."
Charlie shook her head, "I didn't say anything like that to Ruby. I told her to go talk to you to get your opinion on why you left, not because I wanted her to come home and spill the beans to me. Ruby was really upset with you when you took off. It was like you'd forgotten she was part of our family...you didn't even apologise to her for breaking up...her parents. Ruby didn't just think of you as a good friend, she thought of you as a second parent Joey...her only parent when I wasn't home.
Besides do you think she wanted to take my side? I was the one that drove you away...and didn't stop you. Ruby hated me for that...but at least I included her and let her try to help me get over the loss of losing you and Riley. You didn't even...acknowledge her in your decision to leave me...that's why Ruby didn't speak to you for two months after you took off."
Joey wiped the tears streaming down her face, "Can you tell her I'm sorry...when you see her next?" "I think that needs to come from you Jo," Charlie replied. Joey sobbed, "I really made a mess of things for everyone didn't I? I wish I could take it back...so...I want to hear it...what's the last thing you hate about me? Don't hold back Charlie, I know you've been doing that the last few times...I deserve to know the truth."
Charlie waited until Joey finally turned around and faced her, as several tears trickled down her own cheek, "You used me." Joey frowned slightly, but immediately understood Charlie's meaning.
"You can't even deny it can you?" Charlie accused, "You used me that night we slept together. You knew deep down you weren't ready to make another commitment to me or to our family...but you did it anyway. You made me trust you. You made me believe all those things you whispered to me that night. You made me think I was gonna get my family back...then you tore it all away from me the second you could. You said you needed time to change who you are so you could be a better person and decide once and for all who you want in your life...well just decide already Joey.
For the past two weeks I have tried everything to ignore the fact that you used me while you continue going off and...hanging out with Kaitlyn or whatever it is you two do together. Why do you think I've been trying to ignore you or pick petty little fights? You needed comfort that night as you'd realized all your mistakes were piling up around you and you didn't want to end up alone. I was just there that night and that's why you chose to sleep with me. It had nothing to do with me or the fact that it was a new chance for us. You used me.
Then you say that you not wanting to be with me has nothing to do with me, but you needing to learn to trust yourself. You know just over three weeks ago when we were barely talking to one another...I told you that you weren't giving me the opportunity to change and be a better person. You know what you told me? You said I couldn't change overnight and it would take a lot more than skipping one day of work to make you believe I could be there to support you and Riley. Joey, when you told me you wanted to change...I didn't expect you to change overnight either. I didn't expect you to give me a second chance straight away. I wanted you to work through this properly so if we are truly meant to be together...it would be real this time...not just a one night stand.
Your actions so far haven't made me think any different of you. You're still a scared, insecure girl who refuses to make choices because it'll hurt the people around her...well trying to ignore these choices is only hurting us all just as much. I don't know if you're even worth fighting for anymore Joey...you've treated me so badly...but that's my fault. I've let you treat me this way. Now if I was selfish I would give you two ultimatums right now – me or Kaitlyn? Our marriage or a divorce? You can't have both. But forcing you into this decision will only make you choose her...'cause you're too scared to do anything else.
I'm not saying that we don't have a lot of problems that we still need to deal with if there's ever any chance for us and I'm not even sure myself if I'm ready to face them but you cannot keep sitting here claiming that you want to change. If you want to change like I did...then damn well do something about it. We can't keep going the way we have been...both of us keeping the other at a distance, picking fights or ignoring each other, then you confusing me with your small actions of affections like sitting here in my lap, letting me embrace you... I think that was the point of this exercise...we both need to decide if this marriage is worth saving."
Both girls stared out at the lake, tears brimming in their eyes, as they both knew how they truly felt...but fearing the other's reaction.
One Week Later – April 2015
Charlie and Joey entered the Doctor's office, less nervous than the previous therapy session they had with Dr. Scott. "Afternoon ladies, how are you both?" Anna greeted them. "Pretty good," Charlie smiled. Joey smiled in agreement. Anna observed how the women sat down on the couch, sitting much closer than the previous week when they had sat at the edges of the couch, as far away from each other as possible. "I'm glad to hear that," Anna grinned, "Did you manage to take some time together and complete the exercises I gave you?"
The girls both gazed at each other nervously, as Charlie took a breath before replying, "Yeah we did the exercises...and they actually went...quite well in the end. We had our moments...but I think they really helped us start to work out where things stand between us. Thanks...for suggesting them." "It's part of the therapy," Anna grinned, "Now it's completely up to you if you want to tell me all about the answers you gave each other for the love and hate questions, but I'll admit it...I'm always partial and insist on knowing about the presents you bought each other."
Charlie nervously flipped some strands of her hair behind her ear, "I um...it's totally stupid but...I bought Joey this model speed boat. Years back I kinda promised Joey one day I'd buy her a boat of her own...you know different than the prawn trawler type she owns as part of her business. Like I said...it was totally lame and silly...but I dunno it seemed..."
"It was sweet, Charlie," Joey smiled, "I thought it was cute." "And what about you Joey? What did you get Charlie?" Anna enquired. Joey bit her lip, "I ah...got Charlie this bracelet she's wearing." Charlie held up her hand, proudly showing the bracelet dangling from her wrist.
Joey chewed on her lip, "Honestly...I um…kinda cheated on this exercise. I sort of bought the bracelet for her eight months ago...I was planning on picking it up and giving it to her for our five year wedding anniversary...but things...changed...and I never got around to it. I'm surprised the store kept it for me this long...but I guess it was paid up-front. I got the bracelet specially made for Charlie...it's...pretty much a replica of the bracelet her mother gave to her just before her mum...passed away. Ruby borrowed the original one a year ago...and kinda lost it. I don't think I've ever seen Charlie that angry at Ruby when she found out...I practically had to pry her off of the poor girl. I know it's not the original bracelet but I figured...the gift...might mean something to Charlie."
"It does," Charlie whispered proudly, "Thank you."
"Well that exercise seemed to go incredibly well. And I gotta say it, you two look really happy. How have things been between the two of you since you were here last week?" Anna asked them. "Things are...actually kinda good between us. There's been a few changes over the last week," Charlie announced. "That sounds promising. So what kind of changes are we talking about?" Anna asked curiously.
Charlie took another deep breath, "I made the decision to return back to work this week, and ah...I decided that it was time for me to move out of Aden's and move back home." "Well that's...an interesting progress," Anna simply noted. Joey anxiously took Charlie's hand in her own, "And I decided...that Riley and I...would move back home with Charlie...to keep our family together."
***
Well, well, well how things change in the space of a week :P
Did anyone expect this after their last exercise?
CJ are now living together back home - how did they make that decision and what do we think this means for them?
Find out over the next few chapters :P
Oh and did everyone like the gifts they bought each other?
See it's not all bleak - there's still some hope out there :P
Review and let me know what you think!