I will hopefully be doing a bit of a mass update over the next couple of days before I abandon you for my holiday! I hope you like each chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Seventeen

Leaving Ruby and her parents in her room, Charlie hurried out the door and managed to grab Joey before she reached her own room.

"Go back to your daughter, Charlie," Joey said, clearly upset.

Charlie turned her around, taking both her hands and gazing into her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said earnestly.

"Sorry that you lied to me or sorry you got caught?" Joey asked.

"I didn't lie..."

"You told everyone you were a virgin, Charlie!" Joey replied hotly, breaking out of her grasp. "You practically gave a sermon on it, all holier than thou..."

"I still consider myself a virgin," Charlie said, fretting over how stupid it sounded.

"Give me a break," Joey said, turning back to her own room and shoving the door open.

Charlie followed her, shutting the door on both of them.

"Please leave," Joey said.

She wasn't entirely sure why she was so furious. It wasn't as if she had been completely honest with Charlie. But she thought having a child was a pretty big secret to keep.

"Joey, would you please let me explain?" Charlie begged.

Still annoyed, Joey folded her arms across her chest and shrugged.

"Ruby is my daughter," Charlie admitted. "A few years ago, I was raped. And I got pregnant."

Joey's eyes widened as she stared at her girlfriend.

"What?" she managed.

"I know it sounds stupid but I still consider myself to be a virgin," Charlie explained. "I've never had consensual sex. And for the longest time, I haven't thought I'd ever want to. I was thirteen years old and sex pretty much destroyed my life. I mean, don't get me wrong; I love my daughter. She'll always be the most important person in my life. But I can't say that if I could have avoided that particular experience that I wouldn't. I know that's a terrible thing for a mother to say but..."

She sighed heavily and shook her head, closing her eyes on her tears. After what felt like hours, Joey moved forward and took Charlie into her arms. She hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry for what you went through," she said, privately admitting that it probably explained a lot about Charlie's inability to let people get too close to her.

Comforted, Charlie wrapped her arms around Joey's waist, still fearing rejection. After a few moments, she lifted her head and wiped her eyes, forcing a smile.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Charlie said. "I didn't really know how."

"It's okay," Joey said. "I understand. I mean, I can't even imagine..."

She shook her head anxiously. Charlie sighed.

"You'd better get back to her," Joey ventured. "They're probably wondering why you ran off."

Charlie nodded and turned towards the door.

"I'll see you after the holidays," Joey called out. "Keep in touch?"

"We're not leaving immediately," Charlie said. "You could come and hang out if you wanted. Get to know Ruby?"

"Are you sure?" Joey asked.

Charlie smiled, nodding eagerly. Joey stepped forward and took her hand, allowing herself to be led back into Charlie's room.

Charlie's parents had gone off sightseeing for the day, leaving Charlie and Joey to show Ruby around the campus and spend some time together.

"Swings!" the excitable five year old squeaked, pointing.

Charlie grinned, maintaining hold of her daughter's hand.

"You want to go and play?" she asked.

Ruby nodded eagerly. Then she gazed up at Joey, standing on her other side.

"Will you push me on the swing?" she asked.

Joey smiled in surprised delight. She'd been nervous at the prospect of spending time with Charlie's little girl, especially as she had only known she existed for a few hours. But she was undeniably sweet and Joey had no choice but to adore her.

"Sure I will," she promised.

Together, the three of them headed towards the campus park. Ruby broke away from Charlie and charged ahead, climbing into the first swing she found. She waited impatiently for Joey to catch up and start pushing her.

Half an hour later, Ruby was still charging around the empty park, launching herself onto climbing frames and generally having a whale of a time. Charlie and Joey watch her run from apparatus to apparatus from where they sat together on a bench.

"Thanks for spending the day with us," Charlie ventured. "Ruby really likes you."

"I really like her," Joey said with a smile. "She's a good kid."

"She is."

"And you're a good mother," Joey added.

Charlie shifted and looked down at the floor, twisting her fingers together. Noticing, Joey reached out and held both her hands.

"You are, Charlie," she said firmly. "She worships the ground you walk on."

Charlie chuckled softly.

"How come you didn't bring her to Uni with you?" Joey asked, hoping the question wouldn't be too intrusive.

"Mum and Dad told me not to," Charlie explained unhappily. "They said it would be too stressful and that there was no need to uproot Ruby while I studied. That's... that's why I go home so much – to be with her. I miss her so much in the week."

"And you haven't even been able to talk about her," Joey realised, still holding Charlie's hand.

"I wanted to tell you," Charlie admitted. "But... well, it's not exactly the easiest thing to share."

"I understand," Joey said softly. "I mean, I know I freaked at first but once you explained..."

They smiled tenderly at each other. Checking that Ruby was still busy playing, Charlie leant in for a quick but loving kiss.

"It's a shame it's the holidays," Joey said. "Well, for me anyway. It would be nice to have some time to get to know her better."

Charlie nodded. She hadn't reckoned on quite how much she was going to miss her girlfriend.

"Maybe I could spend time with both of you at some point?" Joey suggested, hoping she wasn't being rude and inviting herself. "I could catch a bus or something and visit you."

"Why don't you come and stay?" Charlie asked suddenly, the idea popping into her head.

"Sorry?"

"You could pack some stuff and come and stay with us for the holidays," Charlie said, the idea sounding more and more wonderful the more she thought about it.

"Wouldn't your parents mind?" Joey asked.

"I doubt it," Charlie said. "I mean, they're not the most lenient parents in the world but they'd probably have to notice me in order to object."

She flashed a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Would you come and stay?" she asked hopefully. "Get to know Ruby properly?"

Joey nodded.

"I'd love to," she said honestly. "As long as your folks wouldn't mind."

Next time… Joey goes home with Charlie, Ruby and their family…