Nice happy chapter for you... IJKS xx

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"You know, I'm not sure this quite counts as taking things slowly," Joey said, leaning over Charlie and wrapping her arms around her.

She kissed her cheek as Charlie grinned and looked up from where she had been perusing the rental listings in the paper. She pulled Joey into her lap and kissed her mouth, letting the love between them linger.

"Taking things slowly was a good idea," the police officer said. "But now we're finally together, I'd kind of like to make up for all the time we lost. You and I should have been celebrating a year together by now."

Joey nodded and held her girlfriend's hand.

"Unless I'm pushing too much?" Charlie suddenly said worriedly. "Am I? I'm sorry! I'm..."

"Charlie..." Joey interrupted. "You're not pushing. I said yes when you asked about living together, didn't I?"

Charlie grinned, remembering. It had only been a few days ago and they had only been together for three weeks but everything felt so perfect already. They kissed.

"You did," Charlie confirmed.

Joey beamed at her and kissed her again. She was looking forward to making their relationship work once and for all now. Before now, she wouldn't have thought it possible but Joey was more in love this time than last time. That knowledge both frightened and excited her and it seemed like Charlie felt the same. No longer was there any anxiety about them being together. Charlie held her hand in public, was happy to be seen with her and to introduce her to her friends. They had gone up to the city to see Ross and Morag and Charlie had even invited Joey out to dinner with some of her colleagues.

"So, have you found anything good?" Joey asked.

Her tenancy was due to expire soon and while Leah hadn't said anything, Charlie knew that when she and Elijah got married, they would want space. Having discussed it with Ruby and then with Joey, Charlie had been eagerly looking for a three bedroom apartment for them to share. Privately, she knew it would make her feel like they were a proper family. She was finally getting a chance to undo all the wrongs she had committed. She'd been granted an undeserved second chance to live a happy life with her soul mate and perhaps she would even be able to be the Mum to Ruby that she had always wanted to be.

"Yeah, there are a few places we could go and have a look at," Charlie said.

Joey leant in as Charlie pointed out the apartments she had circled.

"Ooh, this one is in a great location!" Joey grinned.

Charlie chuckled. She had specifically circled a place right by the beach for Joey's benefit. It was in an apartment block just outside Summer Bay but before you got to Yabbie Creek. It was close to both their places of work and was only a short walk for Ruby to get to school.

"Shall I call them?" Charlie asked.

Joey handed her the phone eagerly.

Ruby and Nicole sat on the beach together eating their lunch.

"So, Charlie's really serious about Joey then?" the blonde girl asked.

Ruby bit into her sandwich and nodded.

"I have never seen her be like this with anyone before. I mean, she was really into your Dad but... not like this. And Angelo, she liked him a lot. I really thought he was the person she'd end up with. But with Joey... there's this whole other side to her. She's so happy all the time. And she's so keen to do this moving in thing."

"Didn't she break up with Angelo the second to last time because he asked her to move in with him?" Nicole remembered.

"Yep," Ruby said. "And now look at her."

"Speaking of, has anyone actually seen Angelo recently?" Nicole asked. "He's been propping up the bar in the Surf Club every night recently but he hasn't been there for a good couple of weeks now."

Ruby shrugged.

"All I know is that Charlie hasn't heard from him and we hope it'll stay that way," she said. "She feels bad that he's in such a bad way and I think she feels pretty responsible but she said she's determined not to let it ruin her relationship with Joey. Getting things back on track with her is too important to start fussing over her ex."

"It's not really her fault," Nicole said. "I mean, people break up all the time, don't they? Look at me and Aden. I was devastated. I still am. But I'm not about to go chasing after him begging him to love me. And if all the rumours are true, he's treated Charlie pretty badly since they split."

"He has," Ruby agreed. "He needs to take responsibility for himself and Charlie needs to let it go. She did her best to do this nicely and sensitively. And let's face it, he might have loved her but she wasn't in love with him. I think she wishes she could have been. It would have made her life easier. But I guess her heart was stolen a long time ago!"

"Great," Charlie said. "We have three viewings in the morning. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect," Joey said. "And it's a Saturday so Ruby can come too."

Charlie smiled and kissed her.

"Thanks for being so good about everything," she said.

Joey looked confused, wondering what Charlie meant. She kissed the hand that cupped her face and snuggled in a little more closely.

"Well, I hurt you and..."

Joey put a finger to her lips to silence her.

"We've already let go of that," she said. "There's no need to keep apologising."

"I know but..."

"No buts," Joey told her firmly. "This is our new life."

Charlie sighed contentedly.

"I know I don't deserve you but I swear, I am so happy to have you back in my life," she said.

Joey grinned and kissed her, taking her breath away.

"And thanks for..."

Joey waited, ready to scold her if another apology presented itself.

"Well, for taking Ruby on," Charlie said. "When you left, I just had a sister to look after. Now I have a daughter and this whole history you knew nothing about and..."

Joey kissed her again.

"I love you," she said. "No matter what. It's me and you now and it's pretty much a forever deal."

Charlie nodded, smiling. She had never been so happy in all her life.