Opening her eyes, Charlie couldn't stop the beaming smile from gracing her face. Joey was lying half on top of her, her head nestled snugly on her shoulder. As a woman who rarely went to bed with another without having sex, it was surprising in the short time they've been together, that this was the second time she'd just held Joey during the night and felt such contentment about it. Everything about being with Joey just felt so right.
"Mmm Charlie that's nice," Joey murmurs and sighs, her eyes still firmly shut.
Charlie grins. Her girlfriend was so adorable in sleep, then again, she found her adorable at all times and so it seemed, did her sister.
Last night, she'd raced home after work to find her girlfriend and sister preparing a rather delicious meal for her. Joey had taken Rachel's instruction to the letter and was seated at the kitchen table with her feet up on one of the other chairs, looking extremely relaxed as she quietly guided Ruby in the art of making bouillabaisse. She had been surprised not just by how well Ruby took instruction, but by how much she seemed to have enjoyed cooking. Usually when it was her turn to cook, it was the most simplest of foods, yet here she was making an amazing fishy soupy thing, as she called it. Joey had whispered the real name for the dish to her, but like Ruby, Charlie settled for fishy soupy thing rather than trying to pronounce and remember the bullybase name or whatever it was. It was delicious regardless of the name and tea had been a relaxed affair.
Of course, she should have realised her sister was up to something and at the gentle prodding of Joey, Ruby had asked for driving lessons, explaining that Joey had offered but had reminded her that she had to avoid anything that could raise her blood pressure. Joey had looked so innocent while Ruby spoke that Charlie just knew she was relieved at having an excuse not to get into a car with a learner driver. Ruby did put up a good argument, saying that she was a responsible person and she'd just proven with the meal that she could follow instruction. It wasn't the usual type of argument Ruby made, so Charlie had again glanced at Joey, who was suddenly busy looking elsewhere. She liked the idea of Ruby having someone else to talk to, there was Georgie and Martha, but they had their own busy lives, so having Joey as another person Ruby could go to was a good thing, though she had a feeling she might need to be on her toes around the two of them. It had pleased her though, to see how well Ruby and Joey seemed to get along and Ruby hadn't had any problem at all in having Joey moving in. Staying over, she reminded herself, though if she had her way, Joey would also be staying even after she was better.
She glanced down at Joey, smiling when she finds those warm eyes gazing back at her. "Morning, did you sleep well?"
"Amazingly well." Joey leans up, brushing her lips over Charlie's. "Thanks to you."
"What did I do?"
"You've just made me so happy."
"You've more than returned the favour, Joey." Their lips meet again with a slow, tender kiss. "We should probably remember your blood pressure," she murmurs, kissing Joey again.
"Are you implying we can't just kiss without it leading to more?"
"Considering the thoughts going through my mind about what I'd like to do to you right now, I'd have to say yes, that's what I'm implying."
"Unfortunately, my thoughts are a bit x-rated as well. This is cruel," she mumbles unhappily.
"It won't be for long."
"We could just ignore what Rachel said, I mean, you're good at that."
"This time, we're taking her advice and getting you better as quickly as possible."
Going by Charlie's determined expression, she was going to make sure Joey did everything Rachel wanted her to do.
"At least we can still snuggle," Joey says, conceding defeat.
"I do love snuggling with you and I would love to snuggle some more, but I have a couple of detectives from homicide arriving today and I need to get ready."
"And I should be getting back to the hotel."
"Joey, I said yesterday that I want you to stay here until you're better."
"And I will, but if I'm staying, I need to get some of my things."
"I'll get whatever you need, Joey. Right now, you need to avoid stress and with your father staying at the same hotel, I don't want you running into him and being upset."
"I don't want to see him anyway."
"Then let me do this. I can stop off at the hotel after work and pick up your stuff."
"Thank you Charlie." She really was relieved that she didn't have to go to the hotel because she had a feeling her father would probably be watching her room, just waiting to talk to her.
Charlie brushes some strands of hair from Joey's face. "I really wish I didn't have to move right now but I guess I need to get my butt out of bed and ready for work."
"I'm going to miss your butt because it's a very nice one," Joey says cheekily.
"Is that all you're going to miss?"
"Well, there are other parts but that might lead to raised blood pressure, so let's just say I'll miss all of you."
Chuckling, Charlie presses her lips to hers. "I'm definitely going to miss your lips," she murmurs, finally forcing herself to roll away and climb off the bed.
"Yep, very nice butt," Joey whistles appreciatively as Charlie wiggles it at her on her way to the bathroom.
"What do you intend to do today?" Charlie asks when she returns to the bedroom and starts to dress.
"Martha's told me not to come into work for the next week and I'm supposed to be taking things easy, so it doesn't leave me with a lot to do. I could always go and play golf, I've always found that relaxing."
"You play golf?" Charlie says in surprise.
"Oh yeah, I'm an expert on the Wii and Ruby said I'm free to use hers."
"You find that relaxing?" Charlie asks. "Because I always find it makes me want to tear my hair out."
"It sounds like you must suck at it then."
"So Ruby tells me." Charlie kneels on the edge of the bed. "I'm not sure if I can get home during the day, but call me at any time if you need me."
"Even if it's just to hear your voice?"
"Even for that." Sharing another kiss, Charlie reluctantly says goodbye. "I love you."
"I love you too and I'm going to miss your butt like crazy all day," Joey calls out as Charlie leaves the room.
Charlie's chuckle turns to a blush when she runs into her sister, who rolls her eyes at her on her way past and mutters about how all their sappiness will eventually drive her nuts. Charlie shrugs, deciding she didn't care how sappy she became, because she was the happiest she had ever been.
Next Chapter, Robertson arrives and Joey's father has a proposition for Charlie.