"Nice one Charlie," Georgie mutters through clenched teeth. "She forgot something important, that's all," Georgie explains to those who had turned to stare at them after Charlie's rather loud outburst, before grabbing Charlie's arm and dragging her away.
Having heard the outburst, Joey glances over in their direction, noting the two women walking away. Shrugging off the feeling of familiarity which had suddenly washed over her, she returns her attention to her husband and the officers he was introducing her to.
"I guess now we know her last name is Rosetta," Georgie says when they'd reached the corner of the room. "Now please tell me she wasn't married when you did the deed."
"She wasn't, at least she never said she was and I didn't see a wedding ring." She rubs her brow, "Damn, when she was leaving, she said she had a wedding to go to, I guess it could have been hers."
"Man and I thought my mother was bad but not even she screwed some total stranger the night before her wedding," Georgie thinks to herself before focussing on her cousin. "Charlie, I have never seen you like this over a woman, especially one you only knew for a night."
"I don't know what it is about her Georgie, there was just this instant connection from the moment our eyes met." She smiles wryly, "After I spilled my drink all over her, we spent the next couple of hours just talking about nothing, just enjoying each other's company and I knew the entire time I was with her that we would spend the night together." She sighs, leaning her shoulder against the wall. "That night, I felt something I've never felt before or since, it was like she reached inside me and touched a part of me I never knew existed and I haven't been able to forget her, no matter how hard I've tried."
Georgie rolls her eyes at her cousin's luck at finally falling for someone who was not only unobtainable but someone who could ruin her career. "Well she's married to the new Sergeant so you need to forget her."
"I know. Oh god," she groans. "Could things get any worse."
Georgie glances over her shoulder. "Well right now, Mr and Mrs Rosetta are walking toward us, so I think that might count as getting worse."
Joey stares at the woman's back as they approach, that feeling of familiarity rolling over her again.
"Const. Watson, Snr Const. Buckton, I'd like for you to meet my wife."
Charlie grimaces before turning slowly. Only years of keeping a polite expression on her face at all times with her father's business associates prevents Joey from reacting as she finds herself drawn into the blue eyes that had haunted her since that night. Despite outward appearances, her insides were churning in shock. Gathering her wits, she thrusts her hand out to Charlie who looked like she was about ready to bolt, "Nice to meet you."
Charlie reluctantly takes her hand, Joey's touch like fire against her palm. When they held hands a little longer than appropriate, Georgie holds her own hand out, forcing Joey to release Charlie's. "I'm Georgie and my silent cousin here is Charlie."
"You're cousins?" Joey asks, trying to concentrate on Georgie and not her cousin.
"You seem so surprised by that."
"I'm sorry, that sounded quite rude the way I said that."
"It's ok, it's actually quite a common response." She grins cheekily, "No one ever believes that someone as good looking as me could have such a dog as a cousin."
Joey smiles, appreciating her attempts to ease the tension that all but Angelo seemed to be feeling.
Georgie taps Charlie's leg with her foot, trying to get her attention. "So, what do you think of Summer Bay," Charlie asks lamely.
"It's very beautiful."
Georgie nearly groans out loud at the way Joey was staring at Charlie when she said that.
"Honey, these two are locals, born and bred, so I'm sure they wouldn't mind showing you around."
All three women look horrified at Angelo's suggestion.
"Oh, um," Joey stammers briefly, searching for something to say. "Um, I didn't think officers were posted back to their home town."
"I was transferred back here on compassionate grounds to look after my sister when our parents were killed in a car crash," Charlie explains.
"And I came back to keep her out of trouble," jokes Georgie. Charlie snorts at that. "Oh thank god," Georgie mutters to herself when she sees her girlfriend heading in their direction.
Welcoming the interruption, Charlie watches on a little enviously as Martha greets her partner with a lingering kiss before depositing their son into her arms. "I'm sorry Georgie but granddad called to say he couldn't do his shift here tonight and I couldn't get anyone else at such short notice or a babysitter."
"That's ok, I love spending time with my little man," she says, hugging her son close. "But you should have called Martha, I would have come straight home to babysit him."
"Your boss invited you to drinks." Martha looks at Angelo and back at her girlfriend. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Oh right, Martha, this is my boss and his wife."
Rolling her eyes at the introduction, Martha introduces herself properly.
"And who is this little guy?" Joey asks, tapping him gently on the nose.
"This is our son, Jackson," Georgie says proudly. "Jay for short."
"He's a cutie," Joey says. "How old is he?"
"He's two and a half."
Angelo stares at them, "I wasn't aware you had a son."
"Well I do."
He frowns at her snappish response. "It's just that your file didn't mention you'd had a baby."
"I bet the file doesn't say a lot of things."
Seeing the anger growing in her girlfriend's eyes, Martha interrupts again. "Jay should be right for an hour or so, but could you please take him home after that?"
Georgie nods, grateful for the exit plan.
"Can we finish the story mama?"
"Of course we can little man," Georgie tells him.
"I've got to get behind the bar." Martha brushes her lips over Georgie's and kisses Jay's forehead. "Behave," she says, before telling her son to do the same.
"She seems nice," Angelo says.
"For a lesbian, you mean?"
"What!" Angelo stares at Georgie, "That's not what I meant."
Georgie shrugs. "If you don't mind, I'm going to find a nice quiet spot to keep my son company." She leaves without waiting for a reply.
Angelo looks at Charlie. "I really didn't mean anything."
"Jay is Martha's son and Georgie is just a little touchy about her family."
"I really don't have a problem with her being gay and I was just surprised to find out she had a child, that's all."
"Georgie is right about one thing," she glances at Joey. "Our files don't tell us everything about a person. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to help Georgie with her son."
Angelo turns to his wife. "Well that went well."
Joey smiles at him, squeezing his hand. "It's just going to take some time to learn about everyone Angelo."
"What do you think of them?"
"They seemed nice," she says noncommittally.
"I think I'm going to have to keep an eye on those two, but otherwise, I think this is going to be a good station.
"Why do you need to keep an eye on them?"
"Oh, well it's mostly Watson as her file is not very flattering but I'm a little worried about Buckton too because she was up for the Sergeant's position so there may be a little jealousy." Angelo steps into her, circling his arms around her waist. "I'm glad you're here tonight."
Charlie sighs as she slumps into a seat next to her cousin, watching as Joey and Angelo kiss. "Great, rub my face in it."
"No one is forcing you to look."
Charlie shakes her head. "God, do you have to be so damn touchy all the time."
"Maybe if you'd grown up with everyone judging you, you'd be touchy too."
"Rosetta didn't mean anything Georgie," she says, trying to ease the mood.
"I just don't like the guy."
"You don't even know him."
Georgie shrugs, "Whatever."
"Yeah, whatever."
"Here guys, it looks like you could use these drinks," Martha says, setting the drinks on the table.
"Thanks hon."
"Yeah, thanks Martha," Charlie says distractedly. "I'll be back in a minute."
"What's her problem?"
Georgie glances over at her cousin's retreating figure and then over to the now single Angelo and then back at Charlie who had just closed the toilet door behind her. "Her problem is that she's about to make a total fool of herself."
"Oh?"
She smiles up at Martha. "I'll fill you in later."
"I look forward to it. Georgie, I noticed you limping a little more, you need to take it easy."
"It's just the cold Martha, I'm fine."
"You always say that."
"Because I'm always fine."
"Just take it easy," she reminds her again, before ruffling her son's hair. "I don't think Jay is going to last the hour, so I'm thinking in about half an hour, Jay is going to need to go home."
"Yeah, I'm thinking the same."
"I know you don't want to be here Georgie, but please, try to at least last the half hour without telling your boss what you really think of him."
Georgie grins, "I think I can manage."
Martha shakes her head in affection. "I'm going to be late home, so don't wait up for me." She leans down, taking a few moments to kiss her goodbye. "Just in case we don't get a chance before you leave. I love you."
"I love you to."
"I love you too mummy," Jay pipes in. Chuckling, Martha ruffles his hair again.
"I love you too Jay."
Georgie rests her chin on her son's head as she watches her girlfriend walk away. "It's just the two of us little man."
Splashing water on her face, Joey tries to compose herself as she dries off. Taking a deep breath, she turns to leave as the door opens and she once again finds herself drawn into those blue eyes. Time stands still for both women, before six months of longing takes over and Charlie has Joey in her arms, crushing her lips against hers. She groans when she feels Joey responding to the kiss.