Charlie broke down in tears; every moment she cherished with Joey was swimming away. Lost and forgotten by one stupid random mistake. Ruby shook her head at her mother and walked out the front door in pursuit of Joey. Charlie could never forget that look in her daughters eyes of sheer disappointment as if to say 'you didn't even fight for her, Shame on You!'.

Olivia had cleaned up the mess from the shattered cups and come back in. Alone with her thoughts she realized this was not what she had set out to do. A breakup by drunkenness was not how she wanted to remember her stay in Summer Bay. Observing Charlie's broken body, she crouched down beside her, whispering to allow her to pick her up and put her on the sofa.

Charlie was too distraught to think and allowed herself to be guided back to the sofa. Olivia had picked her up just like Joey had done so many times before; wrapping her up with the blanket she whispered little reassurances until Charlie had fallen asleep. In a bid to stay awake Charlie had looked into Olivia's eyes and cried through a river of tears, "I want Joey, please tell her I'm sorry, and tell her to come home".

Olivia could do nothing more than agree and as sleep fell upon Charlie she admired the sight before her. No wonder Joey had fallen madly in love, Charlie was beautiful and despite the drunken stupor before her, she couldn't let Joey leave. Dialing her mobile, she was disappointed when she realized it went through to voicemail. Leaving a short message as per Charlie's request, she told Joey to come home. This was all a simple mistake, easily rectified. As she hung up the phone, her thoughts pondered the very question she had only moments ago told Joey, was this mistake rectifiable? Could CJ make it? Slumping back in her arm chair she realized the ramifications of her actions and sighed as she reached for a new cup of coffee, pondering how she was going to have Joey understand the kiss meant nothing.

…..

Ruby had run out after Joey, knowing she had a doctor's appointment she headed in the hospitals direction aware that it most likely was with Sid. Running through the hospital doors she slowed down as she saw Joey slumped over in a chair hugging her knees.

"Jo…." She stammered as she sat down unsure of exactly what to say.

Joey looked up momentarily, every heart ache written on her face. Swollen teary eyes revealing her anguish. "What are you doing here Rubz?"

"I couldn't let you be alone at a time like this Jo, what Charlie did was unforgivable."

"She's as much to blame as me Rubz" answered Joey defeated.

"How are you to blame? You've done nothing wrong!"

"I kissed Olivia too, that makes both of us in the wrong".

"Seriously Jo, Olivia kissed you then she kissed Charlie and Charlie took it further, she's the one in the wrong not you" Ruby answered as she reached for Joeys hand. "No one should be messing with you like this Jo. You want to have a family with Charlie I get that, but even your ex has now revealed a bigger fracture in your relationship…. The trust you two should have, it's not there….."

"I know Rubz, but you know Charlie, she values her independence, her mobility. Her strong character is exactly what I fell in love with; you can't argue with her, she always wants to win "Joey admitted with a half smile as memories of better times returned.

"Do you really want to go ahead with this appointment Jo; I mean Sid will understand if you decide not to."

"I have to, even if there's only one of us fighting for us. I have to hope Charlie will wake up to herself and realize she's got so much more than she cares to admit."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I have to believe in our love Rubz, I have to believe that despite all the mistakes she makes, that she still cares, that she loves me and wants a future. Without that I have nothing …I may as well pack my bags and leave Summer Bay and never return."

Stroking Joey's hand Ruby realized sometimes fighting for love isn't as easy as it looks. Realizing Sid was ready to see Joey; she guided her into the doctor's room and listened attentively as Sid explained the various options available to Joey and Charlie in starting a family. Blown away by Joey's desire to stick with Charlie and work things out, they headed out after the appointment and had a coffee accompanied by a long chat. Realizing how late it was they picked up some dinner from the Diner and headed home. Joey was still distraught by earlier events with Olivia but some time away and a long chat with Ruby gave her a chance to calm down and work out what she was going to do.

Returning home, Olivia hesitated to approach them as she expected Joey to lose it and kick her out. After checking on Charlie and giving her a kiss on the forehead, Joey signaled to Olivia to go outside to have a chat. Neither one of them were really sure how to begin the conversation and break the ice. The tension was evident and Joey made the first move…

"Liv, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you; I wanted to meet this wonderful woman who had made you so happy. I wasn't expecting to create any troubles, let alone to meet drunk Charlie."

Shaking her head, Joey slumped in her chair and exhaled... "It wasn't always like this Liv, Charlie and I were happy, she's wrecked us before and I've given her a second chance which we never got after she was injured by her ex. Your arrival here, without telling me, I would have told you not to bother coming."

"Jo I'm sorry for kissing you. I never thought I'd set off such a chain of events!"

"Why did you kiss me? My future is with someone else, and you didn't just kiss me you kissed my partner too. You seduced the woman with whom I wanted to start a family and you preyed on her vulnerability when she was drunk and irrational" Joey spat out, the venom in her voice packed a punch.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Olivia shook her head in frustration "You're right Jo, I took advantage of her but I also highlighted an important thing in your relationship. She can and still does look elsewhere; despite her injuries she still wants a get out clause. Something that she can do that ultimately she knows will push you away for good."

Joey was crying, the strong willed woman of moments before was crushed by Olivia's admission and comments about Charlie's capacity for infidelity.

"She cheated on you once before, it's only a matter of time before she ships off again and tries it with someone else."

Joey was seething, as the anger welled up inside her she slapped Olivia across the face "Get out!" she shouted "don't you dare try and tell me what is going to happen. You were the one who had the choice, you made out with my girlfriend. You were the tease who ultimately destroyed my heart and now you accuse her of being able to cheat. I don't want you to come back. Don't come near me or Charlie or is swear, I'll do something I regret!"

Olivia realized she had overstepped the mark, muttering "I'm sorry" she grabbed her handbag and headed out the door. Joey was irate, every part of her body was sore, the day's events catching up with her. Frustrated, angry and defeated she punched the wall yelling out in pain as blood trickled down her knuckles.

Charlie had woken up to the sound of Joey screaming, her head was still groggy with a hangover but the blurred vision experienced earlier was gone. Heading outside slowly, she had seen Joey kick Olivia out but with was unable to stop Joey from hurting herself. Calling out to ruby to fetch the first aid kit she attempted to catch Joey as she fell back into the sofa on the balcony in pain. Unable to stay up Charlie herself also fell down onto the sofa; wrapping her arms around Joey she offered sweet whispers of reassurance. Joey would have fought her away ordinarily but Charlie hadn't been the strong one in so long that Joey had missed the security which she now felt with her lovers arms wrapped strongly around her. The emotional upheaval from the day was released by tears of anguish. Joey felt safe again in Charlie's arms, it was a feeling she had not felt in some time. Wiping away her tears, she looked up at Charlie. The pools of blue released warmth and concern. There was no anger or steel cold as she had seen in recent days.

Ruby had broken the trance for a moment as she attended to Joeys hand and retreated to her room to give her mother the privacy she had longed for.

"So, do you remember anything from your date with the vodka?" challenged Joey.

"Only that I lost you to another woman" replied Charlie bluntly.

"So you don't remember your behavior"

"Nup, but probably did something stupid and regrettable and then blamed it on the alcohol?" Charlie questioned.

"Yeah, you kissed my ex….." Joey began.

"She kissed me, I merely continued it in my drunken demise" argued Charlie.

"So you do remember!"

Charlie hung her head in shame as she recalled the events that led to this day. "I'm so sorry Jo, I've been a right pain in the backside and with Brax's return I have turned into someone horrible. I have pushed you away at a time when you have done nothing but stood by me and loved me with every inch of your soul."

Joey was taken aback by Charlie's admission and wondered if this was the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. So many times before Charlie has apologized only to make the same mistakes over and over again. Was this the beginning or the end?

In the background Timalands Apologise song was playing on the Ipod, both girls settling into each other's arms for a much needed closeness and cuddle. The words gently providing a backdrop to their lives….

"….You tell me that you're sorry

Didn't think I'd turn around and say..

That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
(But that's nothing new)
Yeah yeah ,,,,"

"Honestly Jo, I know you want to walk out but can we wipe the slate clean, start over?"

"How many times do you think I can do this Charlie? I feel like that is all I've been doing recently. I've been forgiving and forgetting, I just don't think I can…." Joey replied honestly.

Running patterns down Joeys arm, Charlie breathed in as the truth hit her. Kissing her girlfriend gently on her temple, she held her close. The electric spark was still there… both girls smiled in realisation. "I love you Jo, you are the other half of my soul. Without you I'm nothing…. Please just let me prove it to you one more time…." Charlie whispered.

Jo breathed in and out, finally letting her tears fall. For ever she has wanted to hear Charlie admit how she felt, to lay her feelings out in the open and acknowledge her mistakes.

Charlie wanted to let Joey be alone in her thoughts but didn't want to walk away from her now. Instead she asked Joey a questions she was totally unexpecting….

"So how did the appointment with Sid go?"

No copyright infringement intended. Song was "Apologise" by Timbaland. Thankyou for reading and please read and review. All comments are appreciated