No idea how many chapters there are to go but some more big revelations are coming soon.

"Hey Joey," Ruby greets her warmly when Joey turns up on their doorstep early the next morning.

"Hey Rubes. Is your mum about?"

"She's just stepped out to get some milk." Ruby sits back down at the table, smirking at Joey's obvious impatience. "So, how was the boat trip?"

"It was good."

"Good, huh," trying not to giggle.

"Ruby, there are some things that adults do not discuss with teenagers."

"So it was really good then."

Joey shakes her head in amusement at the girl. "We're not going there Ruby. What about you, how are things going with April?"

"She's been more upbeat since you talked to her."

"I'm glad. So, I hear there's a dance at the school tonight."

Ruby nods, "But I'm not going though. I can't exactly turn up with the one person I want to go with."

"Is there a rule that says you can't take a girlfriend to the dance?"

"Well, no, it's just that everyone would be watching us."

"You probably won't be able to stop that happening, but that doesn't mean that you should have to miss out on what the other kids are doing Ruby."

"I don't know if I would have gone even if we were out and Nicole's just broken up with her boyfriend, so she's not exactly in the mood to go." She shrugs, "There'll be other dances."

"I still think you should talk to your mum."

"Talk to me about what?" Charlie asks, walking into the room. Bending down, she kisses Joey good morning. "Morning love," she says surprising Joey and Ruby.

Ruby sniggers while Joey grins. "Good thing we're not at the diner or station."

Charlie looks at her blankly before realising how she'd greeted her. "Oh god, this isn't going to be easy," she moans as she slumps into a chair, her head in her hands.

Joey reaches for her hand and squeezes, "You can greet me like that all the time."

Charlie looks up, "We're not going to be able to keep this quiet for much longer."

"I've got to go," Ruby jumps up.

"Ruby, what is it you need to talk to me about?"

"Later mum. Bye Joey," she calls out over her shoulder as she rushes out of the room.

"Do you know what she needs to talk to me about?" Charlie asks when she hears the front door close.

"Yes and please don't ask me to tell you, because it's not my place."

Charlie sits there, a little hurt that Joey wasn't going to tell her. Joey squeezes her hand again, "I would tell you if I could, but it really should come from Ruby."

Charlie nods in understanding. "I knew something was up with her."

"She is going to tell you Charlie, she just needs time."

"I'm just glad she's talking to someone."

"But you wish it was you she was talking to."

She sighs. "It's always been just the two of us, even with Angelo living here, she always came to me."

"Ruby's a teenage girl now and sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who's not your mum."

Charlie grins wryly, feeling stupid. "All the time I was with Angelo, I was hoping they'd develop the kind of relationship she has with you and here I am complaining about her talking to you."

"I think Riley felt like that sometimes when Harley came to me and not her. Ruby's your daughter and you want to always be there for her, but sometimes, she just needs someone else."

"I really do love the way you've been there for Ruby, even before we got together."

"She's a great kid."

Charlie stands and bends over, her lips finding Joey's in a gentle kiss. "Thank you for being there for her."

"When do you have to be at work?" Joey asks, her hand gripping the front of Charlie's shirt.

Charlie grins, tugging Joey to her feet, "Not for another hour."

Joey pushes her back against the table, pressing her body hard against hers, her hands on either side of her. "Here or the bedroom?" Charlie blushes bright red at the suggestion. "I'm kidding Charlie." She nibbles at her neck, "This time."

"Oh god," Charlie groans at both the feel of Joey's lips on her neck and the strength of her feelings for her. Cupping the back of Joey's neck, she pulls her head up, her mouth hungrily seeking hers. Sitting on the edge of the table, she wraps her legs around Joey.

"What happened to the bedroom," Joey whispers breathlessly.

"I can't wait that long," cutting off any response from Joey with her lips. She groans into Joey's mouth when she feels her hands at her belt, almost climaxing the moment she feels Joey's hand slip down the front of her underwear. When Joey slips inside her, she climaxes immediately, grateful that Joey's mouth was over hers or she was sure all the neighbours would have heard her.

Charlie pulls on her shirt as she sits on the edge of the bed they had finally managed to make their way to. Joey crawls across the bed, kneeling behind her. "You might want to fix your hair Charlie, you walk in looking like you do, everyone will know you just had sex."

She starts to lean back against Joey before changing her mind. "What am I doing, you're the reason I'm going to be late."

"You won't be late and in case you've forgotten," she drapes her arms over her shoulders, "You were a willing participant."

Charlie smiles, "I was right about you; you are so bad Joey." Before Joey could distract her any further, she moves off the bed and away from her. "Unlike you Joey, I can't really be late."

"There are advantages to not having set hours," Joey says, lying on her side as she watches Charlie dress.

Charlie picks up Joey's discarded clothes and tosses them on her, "Unless you intend to stay there all day, you need to get dressed."

"I suppose it would look a little weird if I left after you."

"I don't think that will matter for much longer, because unless we completely avoid each other, it won't be long before people notice that there's something between us."

"Especially when you're keeping company with a disgusting dyke."

"Please don't say that." Charlie walks over to her, cupping her chin, "I love you Joey and I do want everyone to know that, but for the moment, I just want to enjoy us."

"I've said before that we'll go at your pace." She grins, "But don't wait too long, I want to pash you in the diner and give Colleen a heart attack."

Charlie chuckles, "You are mean." She brushes her lips over Joey's, "Now please, get dressed."

Joey lies back on the bed, "And if I don't want to?"

Trying to ignore how hot her girlfriend looked posing naked on her bed, Charlie heads over to the window. "On the count of three, this blind goes up again."

"1," Joey jumps off the bed and by the time Charlie gets to 3, she's standing right next to her at the window, naked for the world to see if the blind went up.

"That's three Charlie, are you going to open it?" she asks with a cheeky smile.

Charlie rolls her eyes, "I should have known you'd call my bluff."

Joey gives her a quick kiss before turning back to the bed and starting to dress. "If you keep watching me like that Charlie, I may have to stop."

"I'll wait in the lounge," she rushes from the room to the sound of Joey's laughter.

Joey arrives at the station a little after Charlie and just in time to run into Angelo who was leaving with her sister.

"Enjoy your swim yesterday?"

"Fuck off dyke," he stalks away from her.

"Thanks a lot Joey," Watson mumbles in annoyance.

"Sorry sis, I couldn't resist it, especially with the way he's been hassling Charlie."

"I'm just not up to dealing with his shit Joey."

Joey puts her arm across her shoulder, kissing her temple. "I'll try to moderate my annoyance level, at least where Rosetta is concerned."

"The rotation is nearly over, then you can piss him off as much as you like."

"Deal."

She shakes her head, "I'm not sure who's worse at the moment, you grinning ear to ear or Graves doing her Cheshire Cat impersonation."

"It's her first anniversary in a few days and Dex is arriving tonight."

"All this cheerfulness is annoying."

"And people call me grumpy."

"Watson, we don't have all fucking day," Angelo calls out from the car angrily.

"Maybe I could chuck another sickie or two until the rotation is over."

"You've always dealt with him in the past Georgie."

"He's even more of an insufferable jerk since Charlie ditched him."

"Just imagine him behind bars."

She glares at her sister. "Just hurry up and put him there and I wouldn't have to imagine it."

"Believe me, I'm doing everything I can to put him there."

Watson sighs, "I know you are and I'm sorry for being bitchy."

"Hey, you've put up with my moods over the years, I can put up with yours."

"Would you fucking hurry up Watson," Angelo yells again.

"What did Charlie ever see in that jerk," Joey mutters.

"I've been asking that about you."

"Gee thanks."

Watson takes a deep breath, "Ok, I can survive this with committing murder."

"I'm sure we could argue justifiable homicide if you feel the need to rid the world of him."

"Don't tempt me." Muttering to herself, she trudges toward the car, ignoring her sister's chuckling.

Unwilling to admit that she was tired after her first full day back at work, Joey groans when she sees a group of girls looking like they were about ready to brawl. Pulling the car over, she makes her way toward them. When she notices that Ruby was one of the girls, she rushes over, catching Ruby's fist just before it was about to connect with the face of another girl. "What's going on here?" she demands.

"Fuck off dyke," the one Ruby was just about to punch says.

"Charming," Joey mutters. "Ruby, what's going on?"

"Nothing," she mumbles softly.

"Yeah, nothing dyke, so why don't you fuck off." She smiles when her friends cheer her on. "Or maybe you want one of us for a little one on one action."

"Wipe that smile of your face."

"Make me dyke."

"That's Det. Dyke little girl. Now, what's your name?"

"It can be whatever you want it to be," she says in a seductive way.

"Good one Freya," one of her friends sniggers.

Joey smirks, "Freya, is it?"

"What if it is?" she says, annoyed with her friend for blabbing her name.

"Listen Freya, I'm going to give you a lesson which I hope you will remember."

"This isn't school, you know."

"This is a lesson in life." She walks closer to Freya and her friends. "There are some people you can piss off and get away with doing so and there are others in which it's a very bad idea to piss off," her voice getting colder with each word. "Which do you think I am?"

Freya's confidence starts to wilt. "We were just having some fun," she says in a sullen way.

"It looked like you were about to be in a fight."

"It's all Ruby's fault and she was the one who was going to hit me."

"And why would Ruby do that?" Freya looks at her feet, shrugging. "I'm assuming by the way you and your friends are dressed, that you're on your way to the dance, so unless you want me to call the school and let them know what was going on here, I suggest you answer my question; why was Ruby going to hit you?" Freya shrugs again. "Fine, I'll be speaking to the teachers at the dance who I'm sure will not be very impressed by what is going on here."

"They can't do anything, we're not at school."

"I'm sure they can prevent you from attending the dance though."

"Freya, just tell her," one of the other girls hisses at her.

"We were just talking to April when Ruby came barging over and threatened to hit me."

Joey glances at April who was clearly upset. "And just what were you talking about?" Freya looks away guiltily. "I don't know what you said, but I want you to apologise."

"Sorry," she mumbles.

"I said apologise and this time, mean it."

Suddenly scared of Joey, Freya apologises to April and even to Nicole for taking her boyfriend.

"You're welcome to him," Nicole sneers back at her. Freya is about to say something back when she sees the look on Joey's face.

"What about you other girls, do you have anything to say?"

"Sorry," they all say.

"I don't want to hear that you've been hassling these girls again, is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Good, now get out of here." Freya and her friends leave as quickly as they could, not even looking back. "She seems like such a charming young lady," Joey says after they had gone.

"You were great Joey."

"Don't think you're going to get off lightly with this Ruby."

Ruby sighs, "You're going to tell mum, aren't you?"

"No, you are."

Ruby nods, knowing it was pointless to try and keep it from her mother anyway.

"So, where are you off to?"

"We were just meeting up with April before heading to the diner to get some food for our dvd night."

"I'll go with you, make sure you get there in one peace."

"What's wrong love?" Irene asks after taking one look at April's unhappy state.

"She had a run in with some other students," Joey informs her.

She puts her arm around April. "Are you ok love?"

April nods her head. "Joey made them apologise and I don't think they'll be bothering me again."

"Do you want to go home?"

"I want to go back with Ruby and Nicole."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

Irene gives her a hug. "Ok, I'll go and get the food then." Irene walks into the kitchen. "I think I've misjudged Det. Collins," she says to Leah. "That's twice now she's helped out April."

"I think most people misjudge her. She has this standoffish demeanour but she's actually quite charming once you get to know her and the kids love her."

"Leah, is there something going on between her and Charlie?" Leah shrugs. "It's just that Charlie seems really happy lately and she's been spending a lot of time with the Detective."

"They're friends."

"And Ruby really seems to have taken a shine to her."

"They've been close ever since she saved Ruby from Robbo."

"Leah, I saw them the other night and if I hadn't known that Charlie had been engaged to a man, I'd have thought they were on a date." Leah doesn't say anything. "OMG, they were on a date."

"Shhh, Irene, please keep your voice down and don't say anything."

"I won't say anything."

Leah takes a breath. "It's just that Charlie's still a little worried about how people will react."

"I promise Leah, I won't say anything at all."

"Thanks Irene."

"I never would have expected that of Charlie though."

"Neither did she."

"I'd better get their food ready."

Leah watches Irene prepare the food, wondering how long it would be before others figure out what she had.

Charlie looks up in surprise when Joey enters with the girls. "Joey!"

"Hi Charlie. I think Ruby has something to tell you."

"What's going on?" Charlie asks, noticing the way Ruby was looking at her feet.

"Nicole, April, why don't we leave Ruby and her mum to it," Joey suggests. She pauses when Ruby grabs her arm. "Just tell her everything Ruby."

Ruby nods. "Can we go into my room?"

"Of course." Charlie anxiously follows her daughter to her room. "So what's happened?"

"I got into a fight," she mumbles.

"A fight?"

"These girls from school were being cruel to April."

"What were they saying?" Charlie asks, though she could just imagine.

"They told her that her sister was better off dead than being married to a sicko and then they kept asking her is she'd ever been raped by Liam and if she had enjoyed it."

"Jesus," Charlie says, thinking she'd probably have thumped those girls herself if she'd heard them say that. "I think it's great that you stuck up for April, but violence is never the answer."

"I know that mum and I'm glad that Joey stopped me but I don't think I would have regretted it if I had hit Freya."

"Ruby, I know that there's something else that's been bothering you, won't you please tell me."

Ruby nods. She picks up her pillow, hugging it for support. "Mum, me and April are a couple."

Charlie looks at her in stunned disbelief. "You're gay?"

Ruby smiles wryly, "Like mother, like daughter."

"Are you sure that it's not just a crush?"

"Mum, it's not a crush." She hugs the pillow tighter. "I'm gay and I love April."

Charlie pulls her into a hug, "Ruby, it's ok."

"Really?"

"Considering who I'm dating, I can hardly have a problem with you now, can I?"

"I'm your daughter though."

"Ruby, all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy."

"I am." Ruby wipes the tears from her eyes, "You're really not upset?"

"The only thing I'm upset about is that you never spoke to me about this earlier. I always thought we could talk to each other."

"We can mum but this time, I just found it easier to talk to Joey about it and she was a teenager when she came out, so she understood how hard it was."

Charlie chuckles. "Mum, what's so funny?"

"I'm just imagining the reaction to the both of us coming out."

"They'll probably blame Joey for the both of us."

"I'd like to see them try that. Is April the first girl you've had feelings for?"

"No. There were a couple others that I had crushes on but I never did anything about them and don't worry, I think Joey's absolutely great, but I've never crushed on her."

Charlie nods, before frowning. "Why not?"

Ruby giggles, "I have noticed how hot she is mum, but she's my friend."

"Are you ready to go and join the others?" Ruby nods. "Ruby, do they know about me and Joey?"

"Nicole kind of does, because we used to talk about you as a couple even before you were."

"Really?" Charlie says in surprise.

"Joey had been so good to me and I hated Angelo, so it was mainly hope on my part." She grins, "It just happened to come true."

"Yes it did."

"I haven't told anyone mum."

"Thanks Ruby, but you won't have to lie for much longer."

Charlie and Ruby rejoin the others. Joey stands up when she notices them, "I'd better be getting home."

"Do you have to go Joey?"

"I'm pretty wiped out Ruby." Ruby hugs her goodbye. "Thank you."

"I told you everything would be ok."

"I'll walk you to your car," Charlie offers.

"How are you with what Ruby said?" Joey asks as they walk down the footpath.

"I'm still processing it but if she's happy, I am too. What was it like for you coming out as a teenager?"

"It was hard at first but I was always pretty much the outsider so it really didn't make that much of a difference at school."

"Are you sure you won't stay?"

"I'd love to but being back at work has kind of taken it out of me."

"Just work, huh," Charlie smirks.

Joey grins, "Well, there have been some other extracurricular activities."

"I'm really hating one of the drawbacks about keeping us secret right now."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I can't even kiss you goodbye because I have visitors inside and nosey neighbours."

"Come now Charlie, it's never just a kiss these days so I think it's probably best if we refrain from the public displays for the moment anyway, unless you really want to give people a show."

Charlie chuckles, "This is all your fault, you make me act like a horny teenager."

Joey shrugs, "I'm not complaining."

"Neither am I. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye Charlie."

Charlie watches her drive away, missing her presence already. "God, I am a teenager," she mutters as she heads back inside.

Joey had just pulled up at her place when Dex arrives.

"Hey Dex...oof," she groans when Dex crushes her in a hug.

"You're looking better Joey."

"Let me go Dex before you really will be Sheila."

"I missed you too Joey."

Walking into the house with Joey, Dex takes one look at Watson and engulfs her in a big hug. "Congratulations Georgie."

All three women stare at him. "Dex, what are you on about?"

Dex looks at his wife in amusement, shrugging. "They know."

Graves glances between the sisters, her suspicions renewed. Her narrowed eyed glare widening as the clues finally make sense. "Bad prawns my arse," she blurts out loudly.

"See," Joey turns to her sister with a grin, "I told you she'd work it out eventually."

"Oh my god, Georgie's pregnant!" She jumps up and down in excitement before hugging her, "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks Graves, now could you let me and the baby breathe."

"Shit, sorry." She jumps back and thumps her husband on the arm affectionately. "How the hell did you know she was pregnant?"

"She has the same glow that Marilyn did when she was pregnant with the twins."

Joey sniggers at Graves, "And you call yourself a detective."

"I've never known anyone who was pregnant before," Graves says as an excuse. "Why are you still working?"

"I'm pregnant Graves, not dead."

"You know what I mean."

"I'm not that far along."

"But she still should be resting more," Joey reminds her.

"Fine, I'll go lie down. Nice seeing you Dex," Georgie mutters as she heads to her room.

"She's ok, isn't she?"

"Of course she is Graves but I warn you, her moods may be up and down while she's pregnant."

"She's like that even when she's not pregnant."

"You know, you're right. Oh well, if you guys will excuse me, I'm going to bed as well."

"Nighty night, aunty Joey," Graves teases.

"Dex, I can't believe you married that woman," she calls back over her shoulder.

Dex just shrugs. "Someone had to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Graves demands.

"Penny, I married you because I love you."

"Well, seeing as how everyone has deserted us, we might as well have an early night too and you can show me how much you love me," dragging her more than willing husband towards her room.