Drawn by the laughter, Charlie smiles when she's greeted to the sight of Alf and Georgie teaching Jay to fish with a mini rod.

"Cute rod," Charlie says as she sits down next to Martha.

"Granddad got it for him."

"I thought Alf was working tonight."

"He was, but Romeo and Indi are doing it tough at the moment, so granddad's giving some of his shifts to Romeo." Martha takes a good look at Charlie. "You seem to be in a good mood."

"I ran into Joey and we sorted a few things out."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, we're going to stop avoiding each other and just be friends."

"Friends, huh."

Charlie smiles at Martha's sceptical tone. "I realise it's not going to be as easy as just saying it but as we can't exactly avoid each other, it's better to at least try to be friends."

"I suppose it makes sense."

"And now that I've finally accepted that I have no chance with her, I'm going to move on, in fact, I'm going to catch up with Daisy when she's in town next."

"That's good," Martha says, still not convinced Charlie could move on. "So where's Ruby?"

"Out with friends."

"Unlike mum who likes to make up excuses to avoid any meal with Georgie, it's not like Ruby to skip a family meal."

"Well, she'd already made plans before she found out about the picnic and she's finally reached an age where everything becomes secretive and her friends are more important than anything else."

"Is everything ok with her?"

Charlie shrugs. "I'm sensing that something is up, she just won't talk to me though, no matter how often I ask."

"I remember that age, I kept things to myself all the time."

"Same here but I think part of the problem is that Ruby sees me as both a guardian and sister and it makes it hard for her to talk to me about certain things."

"She has me or Georgie if she's uncomfortable talking to you."

"I've told her that."

"Joey, are you ok, you seem a little distracted?"

Joey starts from her reverie. "What, oh sorry." She shakes her head, "I'm just a little tired from work."

"How was it?"

"It was good and Martha's a lovely person. I think we're going to be good friends."

"It's a shame she doesn't rub off on that girlfriend of hers."

Joey's brow rises at Angelo's tone. "Angelo, it's not like you to have it in for someone like this."

"Yeah well," he stops before he tells her his suspicions about Watson, not wanting to risk her saying anything to Martha, even inadvertently. "She's just one of those people that get on your nerves, no matter what." He draws her into his arms. "How about we skip dessert for something better?"

"I was going to soak in the tub after tea."

"We can both do that."

"Angelo, I barely fit into the tub on my own."

"I think we should have the bathroom renovated."

"Maybe." Joey steps away from him. Angelo frowns as she walks toward the bathroom, before shaking his head and putting her mood down to her worry for her father.

"I take it from the way things had thawed between you and Georgie at lunch that you did your usual and chose to forget your argument and carry on as normal."

"Neither of us like the agro Martha and it's for the best we put it aside as quickly as possible, especially as we have to work together."

"No, the best thing would be for the two of you to finally sit down and talk everything through."

"We've tried that Martha and all we end up doing is arguing."

"You don't try very hard Charlie." She shakes her head. "My god, you two really are so alike," she mutters. "You both suffer from sheer bloody minded stubbornness."

Charlie chuckles, "You reminded me of Georgie just then."

"I'm serious Charlie, you and Georgie can't go on forever like this."

Charlie looks over to her cousin, always amazed at the calming effect her son had on her. "I know that Martha."

"Then do something about it."

"I'm not sure it will be that easy." Noticing Irene was now with the fishing trio, Charlie suggests they start tea.

Martha sighs, tired of banging her head against a brick wall. "We might as well," she murmurs, before yelling out to the others that tea was ready.

"Mama, I want to keep fishing," Jay complains to Georgie as they trudge over to them.

"Your mummy won't let us."

"Sometimes I don't know who the bigger kid is," Martha mutters affectionately. "Jay, you can fish after you eat."

"Ok," he says, easily appeased, especially when his favourite food was placed in front of him.

"Georgie, where did that fish come from?" Alf asks once again.

"It was confiscated during a raid," she says between mouthfuls.

Everyone laughs at Alf's look of outrage. "I knew you didn't catch it!"

"Well technically, I did. I caught it when I caught the guy running away from me with it in his hands so I guess that means you still have to catch a bigger one to win the bet."

"That's not fair."

"Unless it was specified that the fish had to be caught by actually fishing, then I'm with Georgie on this," Irene says.

Alf glares at them, turning to Martha. "I suppose you agree with them?"

"I abstain from this discussion." Georgie brushes her lips over hers. "Bribery will get you nowhere."

"Charlie?"

Charlie glances between Alf and her cousin. "Well, um, as a police officer, I can't condone illegal betting, so I'd rather not be involved," she offers lamely, really not wanting to side with either of them.

Georgie sniggers. "I guess it's still on then."

"Flamin' women," Alf mutters.

After their meal, Alf, Charlie and Martha were dragged by Jay down to the water's edge so he could display his fishing prowess, leaving Georgie and Irene alone.

"How are things at work?"

"The usual." Catching Irene's look, Georgie sighs. "It's not that great at the moment, the new Sergeant really has it in for me."

"And that has nothing to do with your attitude?"

"He benched me Irene, because he thought my disability," she says the last word distastefully, "Meant I wasn't up to the job."

"He's new and there's bound to be problems while you figure each other out."

"There's nothing to figure out, the guy is a wanker."

"Georgie, I've only met Sgt Rosetta in passing, so I can't speak for him, but I do know you."

"Ok, so I haven't really given him a chance," she concedes reluctantly under Irene's knowing gaze. "But he hasn't given me a go either."

"You've always had a problem with people in authority and in some instances, for good reason, but Georgie, you've come so far, don't let the past drag you back."

"I do try, but I can't seem to help myself at times, especially when I can sense someone has it in for me."

"If he does have it in for you, then don't give him the satisfaction of getting to you."

"Martha says the same thing."

"That girl loves you and knows you so well, so I'd listen to her."

Georgie nods. "I'm glad you're back, Irene."

"It was good to catch up with Belle but I always miss this place when I'm gone."

"How's Belle doing?"

"Loving working for a big city paper, but the paper is laying off workers, so she's been told there's no chance of her being kept on after her cadetship is up."

"Damn. Well maybe another paper will put her on."

"Most of the papers are in a similar place at the moment, but she's been offered a position at the Coastal News so Belle's coming home."

"It's a shame, I know how much she was looking forward to living in the city and working, but it will be good to have her back."

For once, lying back and relaxing in a bath wasn't having the usual soothing effect for Joey. Every time she was distant with Angelo, it made her feel guilty; she loved him and he'd done nothing but be there for her. She hoped now that with Charlie no longer chasing after her that she would be able to concentrate on her marriage and get rid of this confusion she had.

With Georgie lying with her head on Martha's lap, Jay asleep in her arms, they painted a tender family picture. After the crappy childhood Georgie had, Charlie certainly didn't begrudge her cousin finally having a happy family with Martha and Jay, but Charlie couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She wanted to meet that special someone and start a family and it was looking increasingly doubtful that she would. She sighs softly, it's not like there were a lot of opportunities to find women in Summer Bay and while she could move back to the city where she was more likely to meet a woman, she hated the thought of leaving Summer Bay again.

"You ok Charlie?" Martha asks quietly.

"Yeah, just thinking about my future and where it's going." She looks at the look of contentment on Georgie's face as Martha gently caresses her cheek. "Do you think I will ever get to have what you and Georgie have?"

"You're a wonderful woman Charlie and I'm sure there's a woman out there who would be only too happy to settle down with you."

"I hope I find her before I'm too old to enjoy a life with her."

"I know you hate the idea of moving away from Summer Bay, but now that Angelo is here, the only way you will become a Sergeant is if he leaves or you go to another station and if Ruby decides on uni, then she'll be leaving any way."

"Ruby has mentioned uni, so I suppose leaving is something to consider."

"I think I need to get the kids home," Martha says after noticing her girlfriend's drooping eyelids.

"Enough with the kids stuff," Georgie murmurs tiredly.

Martha grins down at her. "Come on, it's time to go home."

Helping them clean up, Charlie slowly makes her way home, to an empty house she reminds herself. "Maybe leaving Summer Bay isn't such a bad idea," she tells herself. If Ruby did leave, then there was little to keep her in the Bay and while she would miss Georgie and her friends, she could easily visit them. The chance of a promotion and her own station, along with finding love were fairly strong incentives to leave and it was certainly something she needed to start thinking about. Not relishing going home to an empty house just yet, Charlie changes direction and heads to the club.

Joey cries out her climax, collapsing on top of Angelo.

"Wow," Angelo breaths out heavily, groaning softly when Joey pulls herself off him and lies by his side on the couch. "I'm glad to see the bath worked."

"I'm sorry I've been so moody lately."

"We've had a lot of changes in our life and I knew things weren't going to be easy moving here."

"I'm going to try to be a more attentive wife."

"Joey, I just want you happy, not that I'd complain if you wanted more of what just happened." He rolls on his side, brushing the hair from her face, still hoping she'd change her mind about starting a family. As much as he understood her reasons, there were times he was terrified of losing her and with her love of family, sharing a child would tie them together forever. Plus, he just loved the idea of having a child with her and he knew they'd make fantastic parents. "Are you tired?"

"No."

"Good," he slips back inside her.

Charlie groans against Jenny's lips, or was it June, she couldn't remember and though this wasn't what she had planned, she couldn't deny the woman was a fantastic kisser. "Let's go back to my hotel room?" June suggests, her words breaking through Charlie's haze.

"I don't think so," Charlie says, disentangling herself from June and moving away from her.

"I thought you were up for this?"

"The company was fine, but I never agreed to more and I'm really not interested in a one-night stand," Charlie says, actually meaning it.

"Fair enough, shame though."

"Maybe if you were sticking around, I might take you up on your offer."

"Sorry, I'm not looking for a commitment."

"Yeah well, I think it might be something I'm after." Charlie still planned to hook up with Daisy again, but for the moment, she had decided she was through with these random flings with women she'd never see again.

June undoes the top couple of buttons on her top, teasing Charlie by leaning forward. "Sure I can't temp you." Charlie's eyes widen at what she had to offer, but she reluctantly shakes her head. June grins, shrugging as she straightens her top up. "Just thought I'd try."

Charlie chuckles, "I think I could have been in trouble with you. Can I walk you back to your hotel?"

"Sure, it'll give me a chance to work on you again."

"Work away."

Charlie climbs under the covers, still feeling rather proud with herself for once again saying no to June after she had walked her to her hotel. She had been an extremely attractive, not to mention, well-endowed woman and she had really enjoyed her company, but the thought of random sex just didn't appeal to her. "That's because I want more than sex," she murmurs. "I want to be in love."