A/N
Thank you all so much for your kind words, they always make me smile and want to write more.
I hope you all will like this chapter as much as the previous one.
Don't forget to R&R :)
Enjoy!
Chapter nine
With the dinner dishes washed and put away in record breaking time, the inhabitants of the house dubbed 'Leah's', had retired to the lounge to watch Twilight together. Leah had snuggled up to VJ on one sofa, enjoying the few sparse moments VJ still allowed her to mother him, with his age came his independence and having his mother kiss and cuddle him all the time was quickly becoming very not cool.
Ruby had sprawled herself out on the lounge floor, making herself comfortable with numerous cushions. The large bowl of popcorn that had been intended for the group lay on her stomach as she ate constantly from it, determined to prove that she could in fact eat the entire lot after a meal, mostly she was determined to win her bet against her sister.
Charlie and Joey were sat on the second couch, each sitting almost awkwardly, trying to ignore the feelings that would rush through them when their legs brushed together, or their arms touched briefly, each wondering how they should react to the emotions that soured within them when they heard the soft giggles and deep breaths of the other.
"Well girls, I think it's time I hit the sack, come on you too VJ" Leah smiled at the three female faces before turning her attention to her son, ruffling his hair softly causing him to grimace.
"Oh mum, the movies not over yet!" VJ poked out his bottom lip and batted his eyelids as he had seen Ruby do so many times successfully.
"I know, but I have to be up at the crack of dawn for the Diner tomorrow and you're practically sleeping… I promise you can watch it again tomorrow" Leah tried to contain the giggle as she saw Ruby's pout on her sons features.
"Promise?" The little boy eyed her suspiciously, he could always tell the difference between his mum's promises and when she just agreed with him to get him to do what she wanted and then 'forgot' all about it.
"I promise… come on bed time, say goodnight" Leah kissed his forehead softly when his suspicious frown turned to a gleeful smile, he instantly blushed as he gazed around the room and saw the others watching their interaction.
"Thanks for coming round Joey, it was good to be able to thank you properly, you should come round again, it has been fun" After watching her son jump from the sofa and wave goodnight to the three women, Leah rose with a smile, leaning over she pulled Joey into a hug.
Joey nodded almost shyly, wondering if she would be lucky enough to be invited into the house again, she watched on as Leah, Charlie and Ruby said their farewells to each other, their simultaneous 'good night' drawing her from her day dream.
"It's getting late… I think I had best be heading home too" Joey stated after eyeing her watch.
"No Joey! You can't leave yet… you have to stay and watch the rest of the movie with us" Ruby pulled her pleading face that VJ had tried and failed to pull off just five minutes earlier, when Joey still didn't agree instantly, Ruby turned her gaze to Charlie, pleading her to stop Joey from leaving so soon.
"You should stay and watch the rest of the movie" Charlie spoke softly, willing her voice not to give away the desperation she felt to spend more time with her.
"It's getting dark so I guess I really should be going" Joey answered both girls almost sadly.
"I will drive you home after the movie" Charlie jumped in quickly before Ruby had a chance, she really wasn't ready to let Joey go just yet and she certainly wasn't going to let her walk home alone with a killer on the loose.
"Come on Jo… please stay" Ruby begged, the pleading on her face becoming too dramatic for Joey to stand turning down, she turned to Charlie to turn her down instead but found the exact same expression on the elder sister's face.
"How can I resist those faces…? I guess when you put it that way I could stay and watch the rest of the movie" She really wasn't interested in the movie, although she couldn't air her views to the two other women, she found it rather stupid and completely unrealistic, she was staying because she wasn't quite ready to part ways with Charlie.
She sat back down on the couch, daring herself to sit a little closer to the tall brunette, smiling inwardly when she succeeded with her aim.
"Cool!" Ruby enthused, she had noticed Joey aim to sit closer to her sister, she also noticed the smile spread across Charlie's face when Joey had eventually glanced away, and she grinned to herself before turning her attention back to the movie and her almost empty bowl of popcorn.
As soon as the credits began to roll, Ruby jumped up excitedly, desperate to know what Joey thought of the movie, she smiled softly when the sight before her met her eyes.
Charlie and Joey had dozed off, their bodies leaning towards each others, various limps touching lightly. Ruby rose from the floor, throwing the cushions back onto the couch, she stretched out, willing her muscles to ease out a little.
She glanced back at her sister and new friend, she couldn't deny that they would make a beautiful couple, there was something about Charlie when Joey was around, She had been in full cop mode ever since she had gotten her heart broken, the only thing that got her attention was her little sister and her career.
Grabbing a blanket, Ruby tiptoed towards the sleeping women, trying hard not to disturb them when they looked so sweet leaning against each other, as she approached Joey moved slightly, rolling into Charlie, her head moving from being leant against the side of Charlie's to being rested completely on her shoulder.
Ruby smiled as she watched both women snuggle into the new embrace, she carefully lifted the blanket over them, not wanting them to get cold through the night.
"Good night love birds" Ruby grinned cheekily, she flinched when Charlie stirred slightly, only to snake her arm around Joey's waist and pull her in closer before drifting back into a deep slumber.
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She pulled her coat a little tighter around her chest, the night hadn't looked so cold as she had finished up at work and locked up, but now that she was outside feeling the cool sea air blow against her face she wished she had brought her car. She couldn't wait to just get home and tuck herself into bed, feel the sheets of the bed adjust to her body temperature as she fell into a deep dream filled sleep.
"Hi there beautiful, do you wanna have some fun tonight?" The brunette spun around to be met with two men grinning at her, it was the blonde guy speaking, she forced herself to act braver than she felt. Puffing out her chest and straightening her shoulders she tried to smile in hope if they saw she was a nice person they would leave her alone.
"No thanks, I'm going to go now, my boyfriend will be waiting at home for me" She lied hoping they would get scared off if they thought someone would come looking for her any second.
"Oh, I don't think so Honey" He smirked as he gazed sleazily down her body.
"I'm not your honey!" Her voice was beginning to show the fear she felt, she turned on her heel, determined to get home as soon as possible, into some safety and to call the police, inform them of the dangers she was experiencing right now.
"Oh, we got a feisty one this time Angelo" The blond guy grinned as he lunged forward and grasped the woman's arm.
"Feisty indeed Robbo… but she looks so fine… I think master is going to be pleased with this one" Angelo grinned back to his friend as his hand covered the woman's voice, blocking her right to scream for help.
"Yeah, he's going to be very pleased" Robbo laughed, turning into the night he made a sound that sent a bolt of fear rushing through the brunette, she watched with wide eyes as figure appeared from the dark.
The smile on his face alone petrified her, she began to struggle, desperate to free herself from the man's clutch, she felt tears form in her eyes when she realised that the grasp was just too strong for her to break free.
"Oh, you've found a good one here boys!" Brett grinned as he stroked his finger softly down her face. She squirmed at the coolness that his finger forced upon her skin, in a burst of panic she began to squirm harder, she tried to kick him causing Brett to laugh heartily.
"You can't run Sweetheart… but please try… it will merely turn me on a lot more" Brett smirked as he grabbed the woman's jaw, forcing her to face him. His spare hand trailed slowly to her jacket, with one smooth motion he ripped the fabric of it and her top, exposing her almost bare chest to him, only the black lace bra covered her girls from his sight.
The tears finally began to fall as she realised there was nothing more she could do. She didn't expect what had happened next, Brett pushed against her jaw roughly, forcing her head to the right, exposing her long neck. Her eyes widened in fear as she watched from the corner of her eyes, the transformation that Brett made.
With a smile, Brett plunged his teeth into the girls neck, he savoured in the taste of her blood as the woman winced and groaned as she sunk slowly to the floor, with each moment that passed her strength weakened, until finally she lay on the floor, staring at the building she had left as the blood was drained from her.
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Joey awoke with a start, she blinked slowly as she glanced around the room, she recognised her surroundings but with sleep hazed confusion, she couldn't quite place herself. The more the fog lifted from her tired mind, the more frequent and clear the memories of the night before came back to her.
She realised she must have fallen asleep on the couch, a smile played softly on her lips as she thought back to the nice evening she had with her new friends. Feeling a stir beside her, she realised that Charlie must have fallen asleep to, it also explained the arm that was wrapped firmly around her waist.
The embrace felt so comforting, she relaxed back into it, closing her eyes to revel in the feeling, enjoying the scent of Charlie's skin, feeling the soft pulse flowing throughout her own body. She bathed in the comfort and security she felt as she moulded her own body into the other woman's, she couldn't remember the last time she had slept through the whole night, she normally woke several times throughout the night, the nightmares of her brother causing her to jolt awake perspiring.
Charlie moved slightly as she awoke, instantly sensing the woman beside her, she could feel her moving slightly in her arms causing her to smile softly, laying holding Joey felt so right to her, nothing felt more natural. Tightening her embrace, she moved her face closer into Joey, inhaling her scent softly enjoying the feeling as it tingled lightly in her nostrils causing her smile to grow. She allowed her lips to kiss the nearest piece of Joey she could.
"God you are so beautiful Joey, I wish we could lay here like this forever" Charlie murmured into her hair softly. She began to tighten her embrace when she heard Leah walking through the rooms on her way to the kitchen. Knowing she had to get up, Charlie opened her eyes, pulling back slightly she admired the woman laid in her arms for a few moments before whispering her name a few times till the shorter woman fluttered her eyes open.
Joey was silently lying in Charlie's embrace, when she had realised the older woman was stirring, she had decided to pretend to be asleep so she could enjoy the feeling a little longer. She forced herself to keep a straight face when she felt Charlie's lips on the top of her head, she felt her heart begin to pound in her chest when Charlie had whispered to her, she was secretly enjoying the feelings Charlie was evoking inside her. Her enjoyment was disturbed at the sound of someone walking through the room and Charlie whispering her name softly.
Joey fluttered her eyes open, moving her head slightly she turned to be met by two pools of blue staring intently at her, she felt her breath catch in her throat when Charlie smiled warmly at her before mouthing "morning".
"Morning… guess we fell asleep on the couch" Joey stretched slightly to make it look like she had just woken up but was careful to not move out of Charlie's embrace, loving every moment she was in her arms.
"Guess so" Charlie replied half heartedly, she could feel herself falling deep into Joey's brown eyes. She could feel a force, pulling her towards Joey's lips, every muscle in her body begged her to lean in and capture her soft lips.
"Good morning sleeping beauties… how did you both sleep?... pleasant dreams I hope" Ruby grinned as she noticed the longing look on both women's faces as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Morning Ruby, are you ready for school?" Charlie smiled warningly, hoping to take the attention off of her and Joey.
Once Ruby had exited the room, Charlie and Joey rose from the sofa nervously, they glanced shyly towards each other, both begging their minds to think of something to say so they didn't look foolish.
"So erm… do you want some coffee or breakfast?" Charlie praised herself mentally for thinking of something logical to say.
"Coffee would be nice" Joey quietly replied, not knowing where to look, she followed Charlie nervously into the kitchen as they avoided each other's gaze.
Charlie was startled from her thoughts of what to say to Joey next by her shrill mobile ring tone. She rolled her eyes unhappily as she saw the stations number flash upon the screen.
"Give a girl a chance would you!" Charlie grumbled causing Joey to smile, she couldn't help but think that Charlie was adorable as she watched her answer her phone and chat.
"Senior Constable Buckton… you what?... when?... who?... oh no… yeah I will be right there, give me ten minutes!" Joey knew from the expression on Charlie's face what was going on, she instantly felt her stomach turn. She watched on as Charlie grabbed her belt and threw it on her now creased uniform, shoving her feet roughly in her boots, she grabbed her bag and car keys before running to the door.
"Gotta go… emergency at the station" Charlie threw over her shoulder as she left, trying hard to ignore the sadness enveloping her heart as she left Joey without so much as a good bye.