"Humph, typical," Joey muttered from behind the morning newspaper she was reading.
"What is?" Charlie asked as she started on her first coffee for the day.
"The Rosetta's statement to Hugo's arrest for Angelo's murder and his subsequent suicide," she replied.
"Let me guess, they say they're relieved his killer was captured and then go on to spout a lot of drivel about poor Angelo and how he was let down by those he had trusted, blah, blah, blah."
Joey peered over the paper at her. "Have you already read this, because that's a pretty close summation of what I just read?"
"No, I've just seen it plenty of times before from family or friends who just can't accept their precious son, daughter, etc wasn't the little angel they believed them to be," she said. "They blame everyone else and call the police useless and so on, then when an arrest is finally made, some may even thank us for doing our job, but then can't resist trying paint their little darlings as innocent victims who did no wrong."
"I get the impression his dad would come to accept that Angelo had fucked up badly during his time in Summer Bay," said Joey. "His mother on the other hand, is a piece of work and isn't the sort of person who will ever accept that her golden child was anything less than golden."
"At least you won't have to worry about them now," Charlie said. "And Georgie and I won't have to worry about any more of those ridiculously biased articles anymore."
"You think so?"
"The authors of those articles have egg on their faces now that it's been shown they got everything so wrong, so I doubt they'll be in a hurry to add any further egg."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
"Joey, Hugo's death means it's all over for us, so lets put all thoughts of Rosetta's and shitty newspaper articles out of our minds," she suggested. She studied her girlfriend for a moment. Joey hadn't really questioned the circumstances surrounding Hugo's death, yet Charlie had a feeling she wanted to. She was grateful though, that Joey chose not to voice any concerns. Robertson had been right, there couldn't be even a hint of suspicion around Hugo's death or his family could become targets.
"I wish I could actually forget some of it," Joey admitted. "But you're right, it's time to put it all in the past now and concentrate on our future," she said. "Starting with our weekend away."
"Next weekend, I promise." With Christmas just around the corner, she just hoped she'd find a vacancy somewhere or their trip might have to wait.
Shannon held tighter to the warm body in her arms. "Can't you sleep in?" she murmured against Graves' shoulder. "Robertson's probably already checked out and on his way back to the city by now."
"Ah, so that's why the vice grip," Graves said with a grin. "With the boss away, you want me to play hooky."
"Yep," Shannon said, kissing her bare shoulder. "I'll make the morning worth your while."
Graves groaned when Shannon's hand cupped her breast and started a gentle massage. "What do you say to a little hooky," cooed Shannon.
"Feels a little more grabby than hooky," groaned Graves.
"You mean this?" Shannon squeezed a little harder and let her thumb play with Graves' nipple.
"You don't play fair," Graves managed to gasp out while her body came alive in Shannon's arms.
"Not when it comes to getting some with my favourite girl," Shannon said. "Two more hours and I promise to make you so happy, that your paperwork will be a breeze."
"Make it three hours," Graves said, flipping over and pinning Shannon to the bed.
"Hey, no fair you using your cop training on me," she pouted.
"What were you saying about fairness before?" Graves asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"That's different." Shannon grinned up at her. "What next officer Perky?"
"I make you pay for that dreadful nickname."
"Officer Perky, Perky, Perky," Shannon taunted her. "Pe…" the rest was cut off when Graves' mouth crushed against hers.
"Sorry I'm a little late," Joey said when she joined Martha at the table.
"It's ok, I've been catching up with Leah, my always on time bridesmaid," Martha jokingly told her.
"Oh, that little suck," Joey teased when Leah grinned in their direction. Then Joey's eyes caught the glint coming from Martha's hand. "Whoa, that's a gorgeous rock."
"I know," beamed Martha, who hadn't been shy in flashing it around. She proudly showed it off once more to Joey.
"Your fiancée has great taste," Joey said. "You're one lucky woman."
"Damn right I am," said Martha. "There are some who would disagree, but that's only because they have no idea what a wonderful woman Georgie is."
"That's their loss," Joey told her. "Where is Georgie by the way?"
"She's taken Jay around to Gina's to cheer her up."
"She's gone to John's place without you?"
"That was my reaction when she first suggested it," Martha said with a smile. "Then she told me John had a doctor's check up this morning and so he wouldn't be there."
"Oh well, at least she is trying though."
"Yeah she is," said Martha. "And that's why we're all willing to let her set the pace," she said. "Everyone except Jay, that is. If he had his way, he'd have all his grandparents living with us."
"John, Roo and Georgie all living under the one roof?"
"Even I would have nightmares with that scenario," laughed Martha. "At least granddad Tony would be there to help me officiate, along with Gina, Irene and Rachel."
"And Charlie on backup in times of emergency," Joey chuckled. "Which would be often."
"Way too often," Martha said. "Living together would be way too full on, so I'm happy to settle for my mum and Georgie finally seeing eye to eye and Georgie thawing toward her father."
"Does that extend to seating arrangements at the wedding?"
"I'm sure they can handle one day of being all lumped in together."
"Speaking of which, when is the big day to be, since we're meant to be planning for it?" Joey asked her.
"Georgie is absolutely adamant that only one of us will be limping down the aisle, so it won't be for a few months at least," she said. "I'm hoping the crutches will be gone within the next few weeks and as my knee grows stronger, I can step up the physio and exercise."
"So, three or four months to the wedding?"
"Three," Martha stated firmly.
"My, someone seems in a hurry to wed," Joey teased.
"Damn right I am," said Martha. "It's funny, we've lived together for ages and while marriage had crossed my mind at times, it wasn't really a priority," she explained. "But after everything that has happened, the moment Georgie proposed, I suddenly realised how much I really did want this," she said. "I want to be Georgie's wife, just as much as I want her to be Jay's legal parent."
"How is the adoption going?"
"Morag reckons it will all be pretty much a formality, since I'm his mother and the one who requested the adoption," she said. "It also helps that Georgie has been a part of Jay's life since his birth and is already seen by him as his mama, so it should just be a matter of filing the forms, being assessed and then signing off on the adoption."
"That's great," said Joey.
"It will be nice to have something go without a hitch," Martha said. "It will make up for all the drama of the wedding."
"You're already expecting drama?"
"Joey, it's Summer Bay and I can't remember the last time when there wasn't some huge drama at a wedding," she said. "I won't even bother going into all the last minute dramas I had on my wedding day to Jack or we'd be here all day."
Joey laughed.
"What about your wedding day?" asked Martha.
"Went without a hitch," Joey said. "That probably should have been the first sign I was making a mistake with Angelo."
"Well, your next wedding won't be a mistake," Martha assured her. "You and Charlie belong together."
"I just want to get through our first holiday, then Christmas together, before I even think the word marriage where Charlie and I are concerned," she said. "Yours on the other hand, we can discuss ad nauseam."
"Careful, you may regret that once we start getting down to the nitty gritty."
"By then, Rachel should be back on board as your Matron of Honour and I can go back to being a simple bridesmaid," Joey said with a grin.
"Oh don't worry Joey, I will still make sure that both you and Leah earn your keep as bridesmaids."
Joey's eyes narrowed suspiciously at her. "You're not one of those Bridezillas, are you?"
Martha smiled sweetly at her. "Not as long as I have my friends keeping me in check."
"Oh god, what have I gotten myself into," Joey murmured dramatically.
Martha laughed again. "Don't worry Joey, I'm not a Bridezilla."
"Bridezillas all say that about themselves."
"Well not this one," Martha said. "I can't say the same for Georgie though, since this is her first wedding."
"Your fiancée is scary enough without her becoming Bridezilla," said Joey. "Or is that Groomzilla?"
"I'm not really sure," said Martha. "Hopefully we won't find out either way."
"Amen to that," said Joey. "Now, what do we start with today?"
"No idea," she replied. "I spent last night going through those wedding mags you brought me, but I just can't imagine Georgie being on board with any of it," she said. "Or me for that matter. They're all about these big, fancy weddings and that's just not us."
"Ok, so we forget the mags and make a list on what you and Georgie like, both as individuals and as a couple."
"That sounds like a good place to start."
Charlie smirked when Graves finally arrived at the Station. She tapped at her watch and waved her finger at her.
Graves shrugged, then grinned, knowing she'd been busted. "It's not my fault I'm a red blooded woman with a hot girlfriend I can't stay away from," she explained to Charlie.
"And what would Robertson say about your tardiness?"
"Who cares, he's not here."
"Good answer," said Charlie. "And I don't blame you. Shannon would be enough to distract anyone."
"Especially if you saw her the way I do," she couldn't resist saying.
"Well, since I'm a happily taken woman, I'm not even going to try to picture Shannon the way you see her."
"Joey will be pleased," she said. "Anyway, it's not as if I have a pile of work to do today. It's mostly just tying up loose ends and I doubt it will take more than a few hours anyway."
"Are you staying overnight or heading back to the city straight afterward?"
"The room is paid up for another night, so Shannon and I are planning on sticking around and enjoying it."
"If you don't have any set plans for tea, the four of us should go out for a meal and some drinks."
"I'd like that," said Graves. "Well, I'd better get to work just in case Robertson does call to check in on me."
"You think he will?"
"It's Robertson and he likes to keep me on my toes, so yeah, more than likely."
"How do you cope with him as a partner?"
Graves laughed at the question. "He's not that bad."
"Really?"
"Ok, he can be, but he's a damn fine Detective and teacher and I'm learning a lot from him," she said. "Including how to not tear my hair out whenever he's in a particularly annoying mood."
"All I can say is better you than me."
"I get that response a lot," Graves said with a wry grin. "If you hear any weird noises coming from the office, you'll know Robertson has called," she said as she walked toward the room.
"Tell the truth Leah," Martha said during a break from the wedding planning. "What are you already missing more, Robertson or the sex?"
"He only just left this morning," she said.
"And?" Joey prodded.
"Alright, I miss him," she finally admitted. "It was just so nice to feel wanted."
"And the sex?" Martha persisted.
"That too," she said. "And in all honestly, it probably is the physical side I will miss more," Leah told them. "Robert is a nice guy and all, but he was never going to be sticking around long term, so it was easy not to become too attached to him," she said. "But when he was with me, he was all about me and it was so fucking wonderful to feel like that again."
Joey smirked at her language, since it was rare to hear even a tame cuss from Leah's mouth.
"Well, I reckon while your juices are flowing like this, you really should seize the moment and sign up to one of those dating sites before you start to wimp out," Martha said to her.
"I am not signing up to internet dating," Leah stated quite firmly.
"There's nothing wrong with internet dating," Joey said.
"Would you sign up to it?"
"Of course," she replied. "But I have Charlie, so I don't need to."
"And I'm getting married, so I'm set as well," added Martha.
"You two are so full of shit," Leah said with a shake of her head. "Neither of you would be caught dead signing up to dating like that."
"Yeah, you're right," Joey admitted with a grin.
"Guys, I appreciate that you're just looking out for me, I really do and while I don't want to end up all alone, I'm in no rush for a serious relationship just yet," she told them. "Right now, I'm just happy that Robert has reminded me that men do find me desirable."
"And women," Joey cheekily added and battered her eyelids suggestively at her.
"Tough luck Joey, since I like driving stick," she said with a grin. "Really guys, I never expected Robert to walk through my door and he's really opened my eyes to the possibilities, so who knows, the next guy in my life could be just around the corner and if he comes knocking, I'm more than likely to open that door."
"That's the spirit," said Joey.
"Anything to avoid you guys trying to set me up," she said. "And before you start getting any ideas, I have customers to serve."
"She's going to be fine," Martha said once Leah had gone.
"Oh shit," Joey muttered when she caught sight of a familiar figure.
"It's not that bad Joey."
"Not about Leah," she said. "It's my father."
"What about him?"
"He just walked into the Diner."