"Poor kid, she's utterly devastated," Graves says, closing the door to the spare room where Ruby had crashed after all her tears had left her exhausted. "I don't think she wants to go home any time soon."
"Can you blame her," Watson murmurs.
"What's Joey going to do, because I think Ruby really wants to stay with her right now?"
Watson shrugs. "I think if Ruby was given the choice, she would stay here but Joey's a mother and despite how she feels about Charlie right now, she'll make sure Ruby works things out with her mum."
"I still can't believe this has happened." She shakes her head. "How could she change her mind so quickly and she knows how Ruby feels about Angelo, it just doesn't make sense."
"That's because Charlie didn't want this," Dex says as he strolls in through the front door.
"I know you don't want to believe this Dex, but she's wearing his ring," Watson reminds him.
"I've just come from seeing Charlie and she's not happy, no matter how hard she tries to fake it."
"She made her choice Dex and it's a little late to regret it."
"Georgie's right, Charlie's chosen to be with him."
"Penny, you've seen Joey and Charlie together, how crazy they are about each other, do you really think that Charlie would just walk out on that and for Angelo?"
Graves shrugs, no longer sure.
"Dex, Charlie and Joey are finished."
Dex smiles at Watson, "You and Joey are so alike, especially when your emotions are boiling and right now, you and Joey are so hurt and angry, you're not seeing it."
"Seeing what?"
"When you went and saw her this morning, did you notice anything about her?"
"To tell you the truth, I was just so angry, I was too busy trying not to wring her neck."
"Then you didn't see the bruise?"
"Bruise?"
"On her cheek. When I was there before, she had it covered with makeup, but when I was leaving, the light caught her cheek and I saw the bruise beneath the makeup."
Watson thinks back over the day. "Shit," she blurts out. "Now that I think of it, she did look like she had a lot more makeup on than she usually did but it still doesn't change anything."
"I know Charlie had doubts about coming out but I believe she loved Joey enough to overcome that."
"Maybe she just decided she likes guys more."
"I was there that night when she told Angelo it was over, so were you Penny and she believed it."
Graves sighs, "So did I."
"I think something happened to change Charlie's mind and it's not what she wanted."
Watson rubs her temples, really not liking where this was going. "You think he threatened her?"
"She loves Joey, she was through with Angelo yet now she's back with Angelo and she has a bruise on her cheek."
"What!" All three of them jump at Joey's outburst. They turn to find Joey staring at them. "He's hitting her?" she demands to know.
"We don't know that Joey," Watson says.
"It would explain her sudden change of mind."
"Dex, stop giving Joey false hope."
"There's one way to find out," Joey says.
"Joey, wait," Watson calls out as Joey rushes through the door.
"Let her go Georgie."
Watson slumps back against the couch. "I hope you're right about this Dex or Joey's just going to get hurt all over again."
"Leah, why the hell are we here?" Roman whispers to his wife who was staring at the table across the room where Charlie, Angelo and her family were sitting.
"To keep an eye on Charlie."
"Why?"
"I want to know why she's with Angelo."
"Maybe she decided he was the love of her life after all."
Leah glares at her husband. "Charlie loves Joey, more than she ever loved him. Hell, she even had sex with her in my storeroom," she mutters. Roman chokes, spitting out his beer. Leah grins at him, "Like I said, she loves Joey."
"At least don't make it so obvious that you're watching them," he advises her as he wipes up his mess.
"Martha told me that you and Angelo had a few problems," Ross says, with a slight nod to Martha. "I'm just pleased that you worked them out." He raises his glass, "To the happy couple." Everyone at the table raises their glass.
Angelo leans over, whispering in her ear. "I love you Charlie," he kisses her on the lips.
"I love you too," she mutters.
"Then marry me tomorrow. We have all the paperwork, we can go to a celebrant I know and be married by the end of the day."
"It's too soon Angelo."
Worried about pushing her too hard this early, he nods his head. "Maybe you're right."
Needing a break from Angelo and her family, Charlie sought solace in the toilets. Washing her hands, Charlie jumps at the voice behind her. "I've been watching you Charlie, sitting out there with your fiancé." Charlie stares at the vision in the mirror behind her as Joey locks the door. "You look like you're at a wake, not celebrating being back with your fiancé." Joey moves up, embracing her from behind. "You don't want to be with him and you definitely don't want to marry him Charlie."
"You're wrong," she argues, all the while leaning back against Joey.
More sure of her actions now, Joey spins her around. "No I'm not, because this is what you want." Giving Charlie no chance to argue she presses her lips to hers, meeting no resistance, Joey deepens the kiss, her tongue demanding entry, groaning when Charlie opens her mouth to her. Grabbing the back of Charlie's head, she pulls her harder against her demanding mouth. Breaking the kiss, Joey rests her forehead against Charlie's, both of them breathing deeply. Stepping back, Joey raises her hand, cupping her cheek tenderly. "I'm sorry that I didn't see."
"I didn't want anyone to see it."
"I know what that's like," Joey says, remembering the way she had hid the bruises her mother gave to her.
"God, I love you so much," Charlie cries, throwing her arms around Joey. "I didn't want to hurt you but he didn't give me a choice."
"I hate Rosetta even more for hurting you."
"It wasn't Angelo...it was my father," she said softly. "He arrived an hour after you left yesterday morning."
FLASHBACK
Still upset after her argument with Joey, Charlie's shocked when she opens the front door, to find her father standing there. "Dad, what are you doing here?"
"Martha called and told me some very disturbing news."
Charlie swallows, "Oh?"
"She told me that you had ended things with Angelo."
Charlie breathes a little easier, worried for a moment there that her father knew about Joey. "It wasn't working out."
Ross smiles cruelly, "Is that because you were fucking that whore?" Charlie steps back in shock. "Martha wasn't sure, but your overreaction to her sleeping with Collins made her suspicious and judging from your reaction just then, I'd say she was right to have suspicions." He shakes his head, "I'm very disappointed in you Charlie."
"That's nothing new."
Charlie's head snaps back, her cheek stinging from his slap. "Mind your fucking tongue girl. How could you bring further shame on this family?" Charlie looks away, rubbing her sore cheek. "It's bad enough you were a whore in school and lumbered us with that brat, but this is too much Charlie. You make me sick Charlie, fucking that disgusting whore." Gripping her arms, he slams her hard against the wall, her head banging against it. "You will end it with her, you will marry Angelo and you will start giving me grandsons, do you understand me?"
"You can't tell me what to do?" Hating the weakness in her voice.
"Can't I?" He sneers at her. "I'll ruin her, I'll ruin you and with Morag's help, I'll take that brat of yours away from you."
"You'd never be able to take my daughter," she says defiantly.
"Maybe not, but what about that bitch whore of yours? She's not really a mother, it'd be so much easier to take her kid away."
"You can't!" Charlie says, horrified by the thought. "Harley means the world to her."
"I'll take everything from her, her career, her daughter, her reputation." He grins maliciously, "By the time I'm through with her, she will have nothing."
"You wouldn't," her voice weak with fear.
"I'll make a call to DOCS about my concern for my beloved granddaughter at the hands of Det. Collins."
"No one would believe it."
"You already accused her once," he reminds her. Charlie stares at him in horror, realising Angelo must have filled her father in. "I'm also doing it out of concern for the safety of her own child." He smiles evilly, "Even just the suggestion would be enough to ruin her," his voice dripping with venom, "Everyone always looking at her whenever she's with her daughter or any other kid." Remembering how hurt Joey had been by her accusation, a more public one would break her heart. "Then there's her sister. From all accounts, a fine officer," for a woman is implied by his tone. "But I'll see she never gets any further and maybe transferred to the worst station in the state. And let's not forget her little protégé; a very promising career cut down before it really had a chance."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Everything was all set, he gets your bastard and I get put forward for the Deputy Commissioner's job, but you had to fuck it up by defying me and keeping that little whore."
"Don't you dare call my daughter a whore," Charlie shouts at him.
"If she's anything like you, she's probably fucked every guy in town by now."
"I hate you."
"I don't give a fuck Charlie. You owe me for the shame you've brought to this family, for destroying my shot at the Deputy's job, so now you're going to make me happy and marry Angelo."
"You just want a son."
"A son is much better than a pathetic whore like you."
"Please don't do this dad."
"I've put up with your patheticness for 30 years, enough is enough." Charlie looks down at her feet. "I'd tell you to marry immediately, but thanks to the way you've been treating Angelo, it'd raise too many questions, so you and he are going to get back together and then in a month, you're getting married. And make it convincing." He grips her chin and yanks her head up. "I said, you will make it convincing. When you look at him, I want everyone to know how much you love him."
"I don't love him."
"Fake it. You've wasted enough time, so I don't mind if you get pregnant before the wedding, just make sure it's not so fucking obvious and when my grandson is born, you will step aside so Angelo can finally have the promotion he deserves." Charlie stares at him in disbelief. "After the embarrassment you've caused him, it's the least you can do. Besides, if it wasn't for the jealousy of others, Angelo would have made Sergeant by now."
"He never made Sergeant because he's not good enough dad."
"Shut the fuck up Charlie. Angelo is better than you will ever be. He understands the way the Force should be, that deviants and pathetic women shouldn't be keeping good, honest men like him from positions that are rightfully his." Charlie shakes her head. "You will do this Charlie."
"And if I don't do what you want?"
"I will do everything I said I would and if that whore tries to interfere," he shrugs, "Accidents happen." Charlie steps back from him, feeling more scared than she ever had as she believed every word. "I'm not giving you a choice Charlie."
Having finished telling Joey what had happened, Charlie gazes at her, her eyes filled with tears. "I love you more than I've ever loved anyone, I couldn't let him hurt you or anyone else."
"Shhh," she gathers her in her arms. "It's ok Charlie."
"He was crazy Joey, he's so obsessed with appearance." She shivers, "He scared me Joey, more than he ever has and I believed he'd do everything he threatened to do." She sighs heavily. "I just feel so weak and foolish."
"You're father has spent years knocking you down and I do understand how hard it is for you to stand up to your father, but we're together now and we face him together."
"Together," Charlie says with a smile.
"Yes, together."
"I didn't sleep with him," Charlie suddenly blurts out, feeling the need to reassure her about Angelo.
Joey gently caresses her cheek, "Charlie, you did what you thought was right."
She shakes her head. "But so much was said and Georgie, she was so angry."
"In case you haven't noticed, my sister is a little over protective when it comes to me."
Charlie chuckles, releasing some of her tension. "No shit."
"Everything is going to be ok Charlie."
"He threatened you Joey, not just to ruin you, but to kill you if you interfered."
"Charlie, nobody fucks with the Watsons and gets away with it, and I doubt he'd go after Graves."
"Why do you say that?"
"She may not act like it and she keeps it quiet, but Graves family is incredibly wealthy and well connected; only an idiot would go after her." She brushes Charlie's hair from her eyes. "Charlie, I will never let anyone hurt the people I love, and that includes you and Ruby."
"Dad can still make the allegations against you."
"Let him. Charlie, I have friends at DOCS who know me and would never believe such an allegation and if he does go ahead, then we sue his sorry arse and make it as public as possible, then everyone will know there was no truth to it and that it was all because of his vindictiveness."
"We'd have to be out to do that."
"Is that going to be a problem?"
"I'm sorry for overreacting about my neighbour and those things I said to you and Georgie, I didn't mean it. I love you and I can be gay." She takes a deep breath, "I'm ready Joey." Joey beams at her and Charlie smiles back. "I don't know how I ever thought I could do this when the thought of being apart from you hurt so much."
Joey links her arms around her waist. "Charlie, all that matters now is that we're together and we can get through this, together."
Charlie leans in, capturing Joey's lips. "Hey," someone bangs on the door, "Open up in there, I'm busting."
They chuckle. "Us making out in the loos isn't going to be a regular thing is it," Joey jokes as they prepare to face the world together.
"I don't know," Charlie grins. "This is where you first held me in your arms," Charlie reminds her of the last time she was there with her father and Joey had caught her in her arms.
Joey takes her hand, "Are you ready?"
Charlie squeezes her hand, "I'm ready."
Unlocking the door, they're nearly knocked over as a woman pushes past them, rushing to the cubicle. Chuckling, Charlie reaches out, taking Joey's hand again as they step out to face the music. Seeing them, Leah nudges Roman's arm, spilling the beer he was about to sip all over him. "Leah!" He complains, cleaning up the mess for the second time.
"I told you." Roman looks over, surprised to not only see Joey with Charlie, but to see that they were holding hands.
"Fuck, this could be messy," he warns her.
"What the fuck!" Angelo screeches. Everyone in the club turns to stare. "Get your fucking hands off my fiancée you fucking dyke."
"Angelo," Charlie says, looking him directly in the eye. "We're over, for good this time."
"Why Charlie?"
Joey rolls her eyes at his stupidity.
"Because I'm in love with someone else."
Angelo stares blankly for a moment, his eyes dropping to their hands again. "How could you Charlie, with that fucking whore," he screams.
"I love her."
Angelo shakes his head in denial. "You cannot be gay. This has to be some sick joke she put you up to."
"I'm gay Angelo."
"Stop saying that," he yells.
Charlie sighs, "They do say that actions speak louder than words." Surprising everyone there, including Joey and herself, Charlie pulls Joey closer to her, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss that left most there in awe.
"Way to go Charlie," Leah cheers loudly.
"You just outed yourself, big time," Joey says breathlessly.
Charlie shrugs, "Words weren't working."
Suddenly remembering that they weren't alone, Charlie turns back to her shocked family. Sliding her arm possessively around Joey's waist, she stares at her father. "Dad, I'm gay and I'm in love with Joey."
Red with fury, Ross advances toward them. Joey steps forward to meet him, "I wouldn't if I were you."
"You can't stop me you disgusting whore."
"There's dozens of witnesses."
"You will pay for this."
Joey leans in, her voice low and frosty. "I warned you once about fucking with me and no one, and I mean no one, threatens the people I love."
"You don't scare me."
"Then you're an idiot. I can bring you down with a simple phone call to the Deputy Commissioner's office," she warns him. "He really doesn't like you and finding out you've been fucking his wife, may make him like you even less."
He curses, having forgotten that she had that over him. "Maybe I don't care."
"Of course you care. Appearance is everything to you and being forced to quit for moral misconduct, your reputation would really take a hit." Joey steps back to Charlie.
He glances with hatred at Charlie, "You're dead to me girl."
"I don't care anymore about your approval dad. For the first time in my life, I am truly happy. I have found someone I love and who loves me and who loves my daughter."
Still in shock, Angelo finally reacts. "No, you're mine." He launches himself at them only to find himself in a heap on the ground, Roman sitting on top of him. "Get off me you fucking prick."
"Not until you promise to behave."
"Fuck you." Angelo stares up at Ross, "What the fuck Ross, you told me she had gotten cold feet but she was ready to marry me."
"And you believed me? You're a fool boy. They've been carrying on for god knows how long right under your nose and you were completely clueless." He shakes his head in disappointment. "And now you've made a complete arse of yourself in front of everyone. I thought you were up to being my son, but I can see that you're just not strong or smart enough."
"You bastard."
"Stop whining Angelo," Martha tells him. She glances over at the happy couple, hating the way they had their arms around each other's waist. "She's great in bed, isn't she Charlie," Martha taunts her.
Charlie flinches, before relaxing. "She's fantastic and I'm lucky that she's my (emphasising the word) girlfriend."
Martha scowls at her.
"Get off him," Indi rushes at Roman.
Joey drags her away from him. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I came to see Angelo."
"As you can see, he's a little busy at the moment."
"Indi, just get the fuck out of here," Angelo screams at her.
"How can you say that Angelo," she says tearfully, "When I'm carrying your baby." Indi escapes from Joey's clutch and runs from the club.
Charlie stares down at Angelo in shock. "Oh for fuck's sake," Joey mutters in exasperation.
"Jesus boy, if you're going to cheat, at least be discreet about it and pick a girl who understands the need to keep her stupid mouth shut," Ross's voice dripping with scorn. "And you certainly don't get the stupid whore pregnant."
"You're a good one to talk," Martha interrupts. "It was ok for you to sneak into my room at night and fuck me while Morag slept in the next room."
"What!" Morag gasps in shock.
Everyone stares at Ross who looked about ready to explode. Martha looks at Morag. "Here he was cheating on his wife with you and then he was cheating on you with me."
"But you," Morag stops.
"But I was what, Morag?" Morag looks away as Martha continues. "Morag and Ross had been carrying on together on and off for most of his marriage to Charlie's mother and on my 16th birthday, he happened to be staying over." She hugs herself as if the memory was difficult. "That night, he came in to my room drunk."
"That's a lie," Ross shouts. "She was the one who was begging for it, always strutting around in her underwear. Jesus, she came to me that night when I got up for a piss."
"Every night that he wasn't with Charlie's mother, he was with Morag and every night from that night that he was with Morag, he was with me." She glances toward her adoptive mother, gauging her reaction. "Course, when I got pregnant, he didn't want anything more to do with me, just called me a stupid whore and told me to get rid of it."
"Oh god," Morag clutches her chest.
"I was scared and when granddad found me crying one day, I told him." She continues to watch Morag. "And he told me why I shouldn't go through with the pregnancy." Finally getting the reaction she wanted, she smiles at Morag. "What's the matter mother, you're as white as a sheet."
"Don't call me that."
"Why not, that's what you are."
"No, no, no," Morag repeats softly, over and over.
"Isn't it about time that you told the truth mother?" Martha asks her. She shrugs when Morag says nothing. "Fine, then I will. Ruth Stewart wasn't my mother," she pauses for effect. "Morag is." Everyone gasps. "And she got knocked up by none other than Ross Buckton." She grins at him. "What's the matter daddy, you don't look well."
"It's impossible," he says in denial.
"How's it feel daddy, to know that you fucked your own daughter and got her pregnant."
He shakes his head vehemently. "Morag, it's not true, it can't be."
"I'm sorry," Morag whispers.
Joey holds Charlie closer. "It's ok."
"God Joey," she says in disbelief, "Martha is my sister."
Martha grins at her, holding her arms out toward her. "Aren't you going to give your little sister a hug?"
"It's a lie," Ross yells, his eyes bugging as he clutches his chest. "It's a..." He falls to the floor beside Angelo.
"Fuck," someone says among the shocked people.