"Angelo!"

"Jesus Charlie," Angelo whines as he clutches his bloody nose.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I've been gone for ages Charlie, I was just saying hello."

Charlie stares at him in disbelief. "Just saying hello!" her voice growing louder. "It's the middle of the fucking night Angelo and your idea of saying hello is to climb on top of me in the dark?"

Grabbing Charlie's t-shirt from the end of the bed, he uses it to try to stem the blood flow from his nose. "I thought it'd be romantic."

"Romantic to climb into my bed when you weren't even in my bed before you left."

Angelo scowls at the reminder that he had been languishing in the spare room. "That was to give you space, which you had plenty of while I was gone," he says, still pissed with Martha for sending him away.

"So you thought that meant that all of our problems just miraculously vanished during your absence."

"Give me a break Charlie, I had a long drive, I came home wanting to be with my fiancé and she nearly breaks my nose."

"It's your own fault. Jesus Angelo, what the hell were you thinking," she continues to fume. "There was a sick fuck breaking into houses and raping and murdering women and you thought it was a good idea to climb into my bed on the sly."

"I heard you got the guy," his voice still whiny. "You could have broken my nose."

"Good!" she yells angrily. "Don't you ever do that again!" With her nerves calming down as her anger takes over, Charlie climbs out of bed and quickly puts her robe on, hating the way Angelo was watching her body. "You can't stay here Angelo."

"What!"

"Georgina and Graves are staying here at the moment," Charlie says, leaving out that Joey's daughter was also staying with them and extremely glad that Joey was not in her bed. She allows herself a small smile at the idea of Joey sharing her bed.

Too wrapped up in his own anger, Angelo doesn't notice her smile as he paces the room, "Why the fuck are they here?"

"Because Graves and Joey were attacked in their house, there's blood everywhere and none of them felt all that comfortable staying there."

"That's their problem." Angelo puffs out his chest, "This is my house Charlie and I don't want them here," he says in a firm voice.

Charlie stares at him in half amusement at him trying to be firm with his nose starting to swell and in annoyance that he actually thought he could dictate to her in her own house. "Wow, your concern for others is really overwhelming me at the moment," she says sarcastically, "And this is my house and I say they can stay."

Angelo grins suddenly, "Fine, they can stay which means that you and I are back to sharing."

"It means nothing of the sort," her words and harsh tone wiping the smile from his face. "Angelo," she stops, trying to find the words.

"Charlie, don't say anything more," Angelo says as he moves closer. "Why don't we just go to bed, get some sleep and we'll talk in the morning."

Charlie shakes her head in growing annoyance. "I'm not sleeping with you Angelo, because..."

"Well there's a fucking surprise you frigid bitch," Angelo shouts.

"Excuse me," says a voice from the door Angelo hadn't bothered to close, "But there are people trying to sleep."

"Who the fuck is this little shit?" Angelo demands of Charlie in an even louder voice.

"This little shit can speak for himself," Dex says in a calm voice. "I'm Dex Walker, I believe you know my wife."

"How the fuck would I know your wife when I don't even know you?"

"You asked her out not long after she came here."

Charlie stares between the two men in shock.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Angelo says dismissively, a little worried about how Charlie was now looking at him.

"She told me all about it, how you came up to her at the diner and sat without being invited and then proceeded to ask my wife out for a drink."

Suddenly realising who his wife was, Angelo gives him the once over, wondering what this pathetic little weed had that made Graves turn down an evening with him. "That was a misunderstanding," he shrugs, "I was merely trying to make her feel welcome."

"You need to work on that a little more," Dex says in his still calm voice. "Are you ok Charlie?"

"Charlie's fine," Angelo answers for her.

"It's ok Dex, Angelo was just leaving."

Angelo spins on her in shock, "What!"

"I want you to leave Angelo."

"You heard her, Charlie asked you to leave."

"Stay out of this you interfering little shit, this is none of your business, so stay the fuck out of it."

"It is my business when some guy is yelling at a woman in her own room."

"And just what do you think you can do," Angelo advances on him, "You don't look like you could push over a paper castle."

Dex stands there without flinching, "I'm stronger than I look."

"And he has me," Graves says as she stands behind her husband. Charlie tries not to laugh at the scene before her; Dex standing up to Angelo in a bright pink fluro silk robe and Graves looking like she was still asleep. "Some of us have to go back to work tomorrow," Graves complains, "So do you think you can keep the yelling down to a dull whisper."

Angelo throws his hands up in disgust, "This is unfucking believable."

"I believe that Charlie asked you to leave," Dex reminds him.

"Why don't you just get the fuck out of our room, this is between me and my fiancé."

"No it's not Angelo because I can't marry you," Charlie finally gets the words out.

Angelo stares at her in shock. "What did you say?" He asks in the hope he had misheard her.

"I can't marry you Angelo," she says in a stronger voice. Walking over to the dresser, she picks up the engagement ring and holds it out to him, "It's over Angelo."

"No it's not," Angelo snaps, ignoring the ring in her hand. "You can't just end it like this Charlie."

"Angelo, we've had problems for a while."

"We'll work through them," he says in desperation, "That dyke is the one causing the problems Charlie, with her lies and vendetta against me and once that dyke," the way he said the word making Charlie shudder, "Is gone and stops stirring up trouble, we'll go back to the way we were and plan our wedding."

"How did you find out about Joey?" Graves asks.

"Everyone knows."

"Yeah, everyone in town, but you haven't been here," Graves points out.

"I have friends here who were only too happy to tell me about what a perverted, lying little bitch she was."

"That's enough Angelo," Charlie angrily says, finding it a little weird defending Joey when it wasn't that long ago she was defending Angelo against Joey. She takes a deep breath. "Joey is not to blame for our problems Angelo."

"Yes she is."

"No she's not. The problems were already there Angelo, beneath the surface, but they were there."

"Maybe we should leave them alone," Dex whispers.

"Are you kidding, this is better than TV," Graves grins at her husband, "Besides, I don't want to leave Charlie alone with that prick."

"We can work this out Charlie," Angelo begs as he finally realises that she was serious.

Charlie shakes her head, "I'm sorry Angelo, I don't want to work this out. We're finished Angelo."

Holding the ring out for him again, he snatches it angrily out of her hand. "Charlie, don't do this, don't throw away everything we have; all the good times, the incredible sex."

"Incredible sex?" Charlie scoffs. "For you maybe, but like our entire relationship, everything was about what you wanted Angelo, what made you feel better."

"Charlie, just give us a chance."

Charlie sighs, "It's over Angelo, now please leave."

"No. I'm not walking away Charlie."

"Angelo, it's the middle of the fucking night, I'm tired and we're keeping the whole household up."

"I don't give a fuck," he yells.

"Of course not, you don't care about anyone but yourself."

"That's not true. I love you Charlie, I want to marry you, have babies with you."

"Well I don't want that Angelo."

"Mum, what's going on," Ruby mumbles as she joins the others at the door. "What's he doing here?"

"He's just leaving." Charlie glares at Angelo, daring him to defy her again. Realising he was risking pushing her too far, Angelo picks up the bag he'd careless discarded on the floor. "We'll talk tomorrow when you're more reasonable."

"Angelo, I'll say the same tomorrow."

"Charlie, I refuse to believe that in the short time I've been away you've stopped loving me." He holds the ring up, "I'm going to keep this because I know that once you've had the time to think things over, you'll want this back." He leans forward to kiss her and nearly falls on his face when Charlie hastily moves out of the way. "Angelo, just go." His face burning with embarrassment and rage, Angelo barges past the others, elbowing Dex in the stomach on the way out.

"Hey you creep," Graves follows him out.

"What do you want?"

"This," she says, punching him in the stomach. "That's for my husband."

Surprised at the strength of her punch, Angelo leaves winded and humiliated, vowing to himself that Charlie would be his again.

"Thanks Penny," Dex says in appreciation.

"Damn it Dex," she whacks him softly on the arm, "Not where people can hear."

"Penny, huh?"

Graves glares at Ruby before turning on her husband. "Now see what you've done."

"There's nothing wrong with Penny," Ruby says.

"It goes no further, ok?" Ruby nods while trying not to laugh. "I'm just glad that Joey and Georgie aren't about."

"I don't get it, what's so wrong with the name Penny?" Ruby asks.

"Nothing," she admits, "Except that Harley loves the old Inspector Gadget cartoons so chances are that me and Dex would suddenly become Penny and Brains."

"Penny, you're being ridiculous," Dex says, "Joey and Georgie have always known your name."

Graves exhales loudly, feeling a little stupid. "Fine, but it's never Penelope."

"Do you guys mind if you don't hold this conversation in my bedroom and Ruby, you should be asleep."

"I was asleep mum, until Neanderthal man decided to yell the place down."

"Bed Ruby, now."

Muttering to herself, Ruby heads back to her bedroom.

"Graves, did you say that Georgina's not about?"

"She wasn't on the couch so she probably went for a walk or drive," Graves shrugs. "I know she's had a little problem sleeping lately."

Charlie nods tiredly as she sits down on the edge of the bed.

"Dex, could you give us a moment, I'll be in shortly."

"Sure."

"You ok Charlie," Graves asks as she sits on the bed next to her.

"Yeah. I actually feel kind of relieved that I've finally said the words to him and you know what, I don't feel any guilt for cheating on him or treating him like that."

"Angelo's hardly been faithful to you Charlie, so I don't blame you for not feeling bad about it all."

"Did he really try to pick you up?"

"It wasn't long after me and Joey came here. He was trying to quiz me on the investigation and then he asked me out for a drink. He tried to brush it off as a misunderstanding, but his look suggested something more."

Charlie shakes her head, "I don't know what I ever saw in that guy."

"I'm sure he can be charming when he wants."

"Oh he can be, but obviously honesty is a real problem for him." Charlie rubs her eyes, wondering if she'd be able to sleep again tonight. "Out of curiosity, is Dex stronger than he looks?"

Graves sniggers and shakes her head. "As much as I adore my husband, Angelo would have made mince meat of Dex just by sneezing. Dex knows he can't hold his own against most guys physically but he's comfortable with who he is and I love him for it."

"Then he was bluffing?"

"Yep."

"Remind me to never play poker with him."

"Yeah, I don't know who's worse, Dex with his bluffing or Joey with her cheating." Graves cocks her head as if waiting for Joey's denial.

Charlie chuckles. "I don't think her hearings that good."

"You can never tell with Joey."

Charlie laughs. Feeling more relaxed, Charlie frowns as she remembers what Dex was wearing. Still a little unsure of what to make of the young man, Charlie asks Graves whose robe it actually was that he was wearing. Graves just smiles, "Goodnight Charlie," and leaves her wondering.

Martha opens the door, "Stop trying to knock the fucking thing down Angelo."

"This is all your fault," he accuses her as he pushes past her into her house.

"How is it my fault that you're banging on my door at this time of night?"

"You're the one who sent me away."

"For good reason."

"Yeah well, thanks to you, Charlie dumped me," he shouts in her face.

Staring at him for a moment, she bursts into laughter, "Go Charlie, I never thought the frigid bitch would ever have the nerve to ditch you."

"This isn't funny."

"Keep your fucking voice down Angelo, I do have neighbours."

"I don't care."

Dumping his bag on the floor, he slumps onto the couch. "I can't believe she thinks she can end this."

"Judging by your face, I'd say Charlie thinks it's over."

"This was an accident."

Martha sighs, in no mood for his whining. "Angelo, it's late."

"You owe me Martha, the least you can do is let me stay here."

"I don't owe you shit."

"If you hadn't sent me away, I'd still be with Charlie."

"Weren't you relegated to the spare room before you left?"

"That was temporary."

"Obviously she's decided on a more permanent move."

"Charlie and I aren't over, all we need to do is get rid of that bitch so I can get Charlie back."

"What does she have to do with it?"

"It's her interference that caused the problems, she's got to go."

"We are not doing anything that will bring attention to us. Angelo, we've managed to keep things quiet and the cops off our backs since you've been gone, so just keep your head down and don't bring any attention to us."

Remembering the hold Martha still has over him, Angelo nods reluctantly. "She's mine, Martha and I just want her back." Martha takes a step back at his crazed expression.

"Why don't you just get over her Angelo, she's not worth it."

"She is to me. Can't you pull some strings, have that dyke pulled from the case?"

"No. Why don't you ask daddy Buckton to do it?"

"Are you kidding, I'd have to tell him that Charlie dumped me. No, next time I speak to Ross, it will be about our wedding."

Martha shakes her head as his refusal to see that it was over with Charlie.

"You can stay the night, on the couch but then you find somewhere else."

"Come on Martha, your bed is big enough for the both of us," he grins suggestively.

"I doubt any bed is big enough for your ego. It's the couch or it's any place but here."

"Fine, I'll take the couch," he says grumpily.

"Just don't get any funny ideas in the night Angelo, I'm in no mood for your shit." Martha walks away from him, wondering how much longer she'd be able to put up with him.

Lying on the couch, Angelo holds the ring in his hands, believing in his heart that it was only a matter of time before Charlie was Mrs Rosetta and they'd be starting a family. "Just imagine it Charlie, little Angelo junior running about. It will happen Charlie, we will be together forever."