"At first we weren't going to go to too much trouble, but since this is to be our first Christmas together as a family, we've decided to go all out and really get into the Christmas spirit, starting with the decorations and the tree," Joey said to her friend as their morning tea drinks arrived at the table. "Charlie and I are going to go Christmas tree shopping after work."

"Cutting it a bit fine, aren't you?" Aden said.

"We've been otherwise occupied with a little murder investigation and kidnapping," Joey said.

"Yeah, I think we've all our distractions," he said and Joey nodded in agreement.

"You're definitely getting better at that," Joey said as Aden manoeuvred the cup to his lips.

"I've had plenty of practice," Aden replied. "Still, I can't wait till the bandages are off," he said.

"That happens in a couple of weeks, right?" said Joey and Aden nodded.

"But I'm really hoping for it to happen next week," he said.

"Just don't rush yourself."

"Yes mum," Aden cheekily said.

Joey chuckled. It was good to see her friend so happy and that was largely due to a certain woman. Belle really has been great for him, especially since his injury.

"I promise Joey, I'm going to take my time to get my hands back to working order," he said. Aden set his cup down and looked across the table at her. "Actually Joey, there's something I need to tell you about my recovery."

"You will recover fully, won't you?" she said, experiencing a sudden feeling of anxiety for her friend.

"The prognosis of a full recovery is excellent," he assured her. "I'm still months away from getting back to work, but as soon as the bandages are off, I will need to start rehab on my hands and the best person to help me with that, is in the city."

"You're leaving?" she said with sadness in her voice.

Aden nodded. "I was never going to be staying forever," he gently reminded her.

"I know, I was just hoping that a certain someone would give you a reason to stay."

"Well you have Charlie now."

"I wasn't talking about me, dummy."

"No kidding," said a smirking Aden. "As for that certain someone, well, she's coming with me."

"Belle's going with you?"

Aden was grinning broadly now. "Yep, she's decided I'm worth the risk," he said.

"I had my doubts about her at first, but I'm glad she saw the light with you."

"I'm even gladder," he said.

"Is she going to try her luck with the papers in the city again?"

"No need," said Aden. "She interviewed for a job yesterday and she just heard back that she's been offered a full internship."

"With which paper?"

"It's not a newspaper," he said. "Belle will be working in the Media Unit for the NSW Police Department."

"Wow, that is unexpected," said Joey.

"Megan, the head of the Unit, was quite impressed by Belle's story on the hostage situation and even more impressed with Belle's refusal to bow to her editor's demands to get the inside goss on the investigation from her sister and then write about her involvement," he told Joey. "Sister or not, Belle could easily have betrayed those she loved for the story of her life and the fact she risked her job by refusing to do just that, earned her some grudging respect from not just her fellow journos, but also the Police PR department," he said. "Megan really liked that she put her ethics and loyalty first and she thinks those characteristics are perfect for Police media relations."

"Megan?" Joey murmured thoughtful as a memory tugged at the back of her mind. "Not Megan, as in Megan your ex academy partner?"

"The very same."

"You put in a good word for Belle, didn't you?"

He nodded. "She's good at her job and deserves a chance," he said. "It was also a little selfish on my part," he willingly admitted. "I wanted Belle to come with me, but I couldn't expect her to leave her family and job here for an uncertain future with me in the city."

"Does Belle know?"

"Yeah, I made sure she knew I had spoken to Megan, and assured her that all I did was get her through the door to speak to Megan," Aden explained to her. "Belle still had to interview for the job and win it on her own merit and she did just that. It might not be the sort of investigative journalism that Belle is after, but media relations is an important part of the Police Force, especially in cases which involve officers as victims and/or suspects and so Belle will have a very important role to play," he said. "And given what a tough business media is to crack into, this is such a fantastic opportunity for her to learn and to gain valuable experience, which she's hoping will open a few more doors for her in the future."

"I have a feeling that her connection to the police will make her very appealing to the papers once it's known."

"That's what she's hoping for, but the Internship is for two years and so the newspapers will have to wait," he said. "Who knows, Belle may enjoy it so much, she'll stick with it."

"I'm happy for you both, but I'm going to miss you so much," Joey said.

"I'm really going to miss you to and all the others as well," he said.

"When are you leaving?"

"Belle's job doesn't start till the New Year, but I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so we'll be leaving Monday," he informed her. "I know it's quick, but we need to get home to start organising things." Aden smiled at his friend's sorrowful look. "Joey, we're not going to be that far away and Belle and I are going to be making regular visits back to the Bay, especially in the lead up to the wedding."

Aden was surprised when his friend suddenly burst into laughter.

"Now you're happy I'm leaving?" he queried in mild confusion.

"No, I just realised something," she said between her chuckles.

"Oh?"

"With Belle leaving town, that will leave Charlie to deal with Georgie and all the wedding stuff on her own."

"Belle will still be Georgie's best woman."

"Yeah, except with Belle in the city, then a lot of the day to day details will fall to Charlie."

"Ah, that actually helps to explain the extra width of Belle's smile when she said she was coming with me," Aden said, also having a little chuckle. "She's been making jokes about how her sister will cope with all the wedding hoo-hah once it really starts to get into full swing."

"We're probably just letting our imaginations get the better of us," said Joey. "Georgie has had minimal involvement so far, so it might all be good."

"Is she not interested in the planning stage?"

"Her priorities right now are ensuring Martha has a full recovery, cheering Gina up, all the while, getting to know her sister and father properly."

"She's certainly had her fair share to deal with."

"The worst is over now though," she said. "And now they can start to focus on their family, Christmas and the wedding."

"Now that I think of it, that actually sounds worse than being caught up in a murder investigation," Aden joked and they both laughed.

"Well, at least some of it has already been taken care of," Joey said. She eyed her friend speculatively. "You wouldn't know anything about a Christmas raid that occurred yesterday, would you?"

"Haven't heard anything about any raid of any sort," he said.

"It's just that a tree popped up in Martha and Georgie's lounge room while they were both out yesterday, complete with decorations and presents underneath."

"That's the first I've heard of it."

"Well, someone had to have organised the buying, then the breaking in and putting up of and decorating of the tree," she said. "We figured it was Irene and Belle behind it."

Aden shrugged. "As I said, it's the first I've heard of it."

"Thanks Aden."

"For what?"

"For confirming that it was them."

"How could I confirm it when I just said it's the first I've heard of it?"

"Which is the opposite of what you meant."

"How do you get that?"

"You have a tell."

"I have a what?"

"A tell," she said. "A facial expression that says you're lying or bluffing."

"Bullshit."

"Did you never wonder why you could never beat me at poker?"

"I figured you used to just cheat." His eyes narrowed with suspicion at her reaction to his accusation. "You did cheat, didn't you?"

"I know nothing."

"Bloody little cheater," he murmured good naturedly. He smiled at her. "I'm really going to miss you, Cheater."

"I'm going to miss you too, Mark."

"Mark?"

"As in easy mark."

"Ha, ha."

Joey sighed and smiled wryly. "Wow, things really are moving along now and everyone's leaving."

"Who else is leaving?"

"Graves and Shannon left earlier this morning."

"That's a shame, I'd have liked to have gotten to know them better." Aden's attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. "Well, well, look who is here," he murmured.

Joey turned in her chair to see whom he was referring to. There was a tall, blonde guy at the counter. "Who is he?" Joey said. The man leant over the counter to whisper something to Leah. Whatever it was he said, it got Leah to smile. "Is he flirting with Leah?"

"His name is Peter Baker and yeah, I'd say he is definitely flirting with her," Aden said.

"I think Leah is enjoying it," she said.

"That's a shame, because I'm not so sure Peter's wife would be enjoying it as much," he muttered.