Well, I don't know if you've read the new spoilers but I have and I am officially switching off. I can't bear the show anymore. I'll keep writing for now and I'll check for spoilers to see if Home and Away will actually fix their ridiculous storylines. But aside from that, my optimism is gone and watching the show is over. For now though, enjoy the next chapter. It's short but sweet – I hope! Love, IJKS xx

Chapter Four

"Charlie, this place is seriously expensive," Joey squeaked when the waiter had sat them, taken a note of their drinks orders and left them to look through the menu.

Her eyes widened at every new price. Charlie couldn't help but smile and think she was utterly adorable.

"When do I ever do anything really fun?" Charlie asked.

Joey looked puzzled.

"I work, I mess you around, I look out for Ruby, I sleep and I go running," Charlie said. "I think you and I deserve a little bit of a treat."

Joey smiled back at her.

"Especially as you've lost one of those," she said.

Now it was Charlie's turn to look confused.

"You don't mess me around anymore."

Charlie beamed at her and reached for her hand across the table. She was glad that they had gone away. It gave them a chance to be together, to feel natural and happy and relaxed and keep away from the prying eyes in Summer Bay. Once they had got used to being a proper couple in private, Charlie hoped she would have the strength to go public back home. The thought was scary but she was determined to give her relationship with Joey a fighting chance.

"Order whatever you want," she instructed.

Joey nodded a little uncertainly and retracted her hand in order to hold and study the menu properly.


After their meal, Charlie and Joey strolled out of the restaurant hand in hand in the direction of the hotel. It was a fifteen minute journey and they were glad to be walking off such a lot of rich food. Joey found herself unable to stop smiling. Charlie let her go in order to pull her closer by wrapping her arm around Joey's shoulders.

"I'm so happy," Joey said.

Then she blushed. She hadn't exactly meant to swoon out loud. Charlie smiled and hugged her a little tighter as they continued their pace.

"Me too," she said. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving me one last chance," Charlie told her. "I can't even explain how I'd be feeling if you'd just left. When Aden told me that you were going on a long haul, I thought I was going to die. I..."

"Aden told you?" Joey asked.

"Yeah," Charlie said. "When I went to make sure he was alright. He said he hadn't seen much of you but that you were going away. I just kept thinking, no, she wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would she?"

Joey sighed and guilt washed over her.

"I might have," she admitted.

She stopped and turned to face Charlie, taking hold of her hands.

"I didn't think you wanted to see me again," she explained.

"I never wanted to stop seeing you," Charlie replied. "I..."

She shook her head.

"What?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does."

Charlie felt embarrassed to admit the truth but she wanted to always be honest with Joey from here on out.

"I've cried myself to sleep every single night since I lost you."

Joey felt a strange fluttering in her chest. Every moment seemed to bring a new kind of realisation of just how Charlie felt about her. It made her feel special.

"So did I," she confessed.

Charlie reached out and stroked Joey's cheek. She leant in and captured her lips with her own, wrapping her arms around her and holding her as close as humanly possible. They turned and continued walking together, still hand in hand. Charlie's heart was still racing. It felt so unreal to actually be here with Joey. When she'd realised she had feelings for another woman, it had shocked and confused her so much. She'd never believed that she'd ever reconcile it enough in her heart that she could actually get over her fears and go for what she really wanted. All she hoped now was that it would last. Now that she knew what it was like to be with someone so amazing and someone who loved her so much, she hoped that she wouldn't make a mistake and lose her. She didn't drop Joey's hand when they walked through the foyer of the hotel towards the elevator. And once the lift doors had closed on them, she pulled her in for another kiss that lasted until they reached the third floor. They made their way to their room, both eager for another beautiful night.