Charlie sighs as she finally pulls away from Joey and sits up. "I should be going."

"You could stay," Joey suggests, her hand resting on Charlie's back.

"I know, but I told Ruby earlier that I'd be home soon and I'd like to spend more time with her, especially with everything that's been happening."

"Are you going to tell her that I'm staying?"

"Oh god," Charlie looks horrified. "We're going to need protection from bone crushing hugs when I tell her you're staying as well as Georgie."

"Georgie?"

"Oh right, she probably hasn't had a chance to talk to you. Hugo's taking the Snr Sergeant's position at Area Command, which means they're staying in Summer Bay."

"That's great," Joey says excitedly, before scowling. "Fuck, that means he's going to be lording it over everyone."

Charlie chuckles, "That really does seem to be a common reaction. He's not really that bad, is he?"

Shaking her head, Joey assures her that Hugo was a good cop and a good guy. "He just thinks that being my brother entitles him to order me around at home." Joey tilts her head as she studies Charlie. "Is there something else on your mind?"

"I've just been thinking. If you're staying, that means we need a place to live."

Frowning, Joey sits up next to her. "What about your place?"

"I know it's where we first made love, but it's also where I lived with Angelo and where he," she shudders, "Where he attacked me." She turns to Joey, "I want a fresh start, a place where new memories can be created." She frowns when she senses Joey's lack of enthusiasm. "You're not keen on the idea of a place together."

"No I am, it's just that I learned early on not to rush into things so I tend to over think things sometimes." She smiles encouragingly at Charlie. "I love you Charlie and I want to spend my life with you, I just don't want you to rush into anything."

"I can't stay at my place any more Joey and with Hugo moving in with Georgie, it seems wrong to stay with them."

"I do want to live with you Charlie, more than anything, I just think it's too early for such a huge decision like buying a house together."

"Joey, is there another reason?"

Joey nods reluctantly. "Riley and I were always equal partners, in everything, including the mortgage and with my job up in the air," she shrugs, "Maybe it's stupid, but I don't like the idea of being a passenger in this relationship."

"I understand Joey, you don't want to be a kept woman," she says with a smile.

Joey chuckles, "Something like that."

"Your place in the city would be worth more than my place though, wouldn't it?"

Joey thinks for a moment, "There'd still be quite a bit left over from the sale if I sold it, even once I'd paid off the mortgage."

"But you're not sure about selling it, are you?"

"I couldn't live there after Riley was killed there, but I couldn't bring myself to sell it either, so I rented it out and then rented a smaller place for me and Harley."

"I have a fair idea of the cost of rent in the city, so if you give up the other place, then the rent you get from the one you own would help to cover a mortgage on a house here."

Joey smiles wryly. "You've put a lot of thought into this, haven't you?"

"Actually, I've only just been thinking of this." She grins, "You're right though, it is too early to think of buying a place together, so maybe we can just rent a new place and then buy when we're both ready."

"It wouldn't bother you to wait?"

"Of course not. We'll still be together and it may actually take some time to sell my place anyway." She caresses Joey's face, "I really don't mind waiting and buying a place together so quickly was kind of a spur of the moment idea." She brushes her lips over Joey's. "As long as we're together, I don't care if we end up in a tent."

"I do love a tent," Joey jokes. "The four of us are going to be a family Charlie and I definitely see us buying a house in the future."

Charlie grins wryly, "I usually find every excuse to avoid commitment, even with Angelo I only ever agreed to marry him because my father was there and as for moving in, I just let him pressure me into it and yet with you, it's like I can't wait to be together as a family."

Wincing a little in discomfort, Joey wraps her arms around Charlie. "I can't wait either and after the surgery tomorrow on my hand, I can get out of here."

"Really?"

"Really. I know I'm not going to be too mobile for a few days yet, but I really want out of here."

"I don't want you to be forcing yourself and ignoring your pain."

"I'm not ignoring it," she grins, "It's just that when I'm with you, I tend to forget that I'm hurt."

"I'm serious Joey, you need to take care of yourself."

"I will, Charlie." She grins, "You can help take care of me right now."

"Joey, I thought that's what we had been doing for the past hour."

"I'm still a little sore and I'm sure Ruby won't mind if you're a little late."

Disentangling herself from Joey a little while later, Charlie gently brushes a stray hair from her sleeping girlfriend's face. Kissing her lips softly, she climbs off the bed.

"Giles, you should get someone here to replace you and get some rest."

"I still have an hour left of my shift, then I'll be relieved." He nods towards Joey's room. "How's she doing?"

"Better."

"She's a good cop and if you don't mind me saying, you're better off with her than you ever were with Angelo."

"Believe me, I feel the same way. Keep your eyes open for Angelo."

"Will do."

Angelo curses and ducks back into the room when he sees Giles with Charlie. Watching Charlie walk away, his chances of following her are blown when she runs into Leah. "Fuck." Fuming, he sneaks back out the window, realising his chance to be with Charlie would have to wait a bit longer.

"Leah, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see Joey and for a check up."

"Joey's sleeping at the moment."

"Worn her out, have we?" she says cheekily.

Charlie smirks, "Nah, as much as she tries to hide it, this has all taken a bit out of her. What about you, you're not sick or anything, are you?"

"No, just pregnant."

It takes a moment for Leah's words to sink in. "Oh my god, that's fantastic news," she says, hugging her friend. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I've had a false positive on those home tests before, so I wanted to wait for the doctor to confirm it this time."

"I had a suspicion you might have gotten clucky again after the ball you had with Harley when she was here."

"So did Roman. After the first few failed attempts when we first got married, Roman and I kind of put off trying for awhile but we've been talking about it and decided that it was time to try again." She pats her belly, "And this time we really didn't have to try too hard."

"I'm so happy for you."

"I expect you to baby sit."

"Of course I will." Charlie shakes her head, "God, that's two babies now and no doubt we'll have babysitting duties with Georgie's."

"Then she's staying?"

"Both sisters are."

"I never really thought Joey would leave."

"It was a possibility. It would have seemed strange to leave the Bay, but I would have left if it meant being with Joey."

"I'm glad that didn't happen. It seems we're all getting what we want." Leah glances at her slyly, "Any babies in your future?"

"Who knows."

"Am I actually detecting a change of heart," Leah says, knowing of Charlie's reluctance to have another baby.

"I'm not saying I will have another baby, just that the idea doesn't terrify me like it once did."

"I never thought I'd see the day when Charlie Buckton was well and truly smitten."

"Neither did I. If Roman's still at work, how about you come home with me and we can celebrate your pregnancy." Charlie grins, "You can act as a shield when I tell Ruby we're all staying in the Bay."

"Except for Dex and Graves," Leah says as they head for the exit. "He's an odd boy, but he's so sweet and adorable, I'm going to miss him and Graves of course."

"Same here."

Leah makes a show of looking Charlie up and down. "Well, you're certainly in one piece, so I take it that you survived the mother-in-law test," Leah jokes.

"Barely."

"Is she really that bad?"

"She's quite formidable but she's actually very nice. She's just looking out for her kids."

"It must take some effort to look out for those kids of hers," Leah chuckles.

Charlie laughs with her as they reach their cars.

"Are you sure you want to leave Joey?" Leah asks when Charlie glances back toward the hospital.

"It's not that, I just had this uncomfortable feeling I was being watched." Scanning the area, she shrugs. "I guess I'm just jumping at shadows."

"I don't blame you for being jumpy after everything that has happened."

Scanning the area again, Charlie still can't shake the feeling she was being watched. Sighing, she gets into her car.

Standing among the trees, the figure watches Charlie drive away, before turning their attention to the other figure who had also been watching Charlie. The figure sneers as Angelo scurries away.