Three days later, there was a hive of activity at Joey and Charlie's new place as family and friends helped them move in. Limited by her hand injury, Joey was keeping her sister company and as Georgie was under strict instructions from her fiancé not to lift anything heavy, which she had taken to mean lifting nothing at all, they were sitting on the sidelines, directing proceedings.
"You're really enjoying all the pampering, aren't you?"
Watson grins. "I put up with him disappearing when he was undercover, I'm going to be putting up with an expanding waistline because he got me pregnant, so yeah, I'm going to enjoy every minute of the pampering."
"So where's he taking you for your trip?"
"There's no way I'm telling you that."
"I wouldn't bust in on your holiday Georgie."
"Yeah well, I don't trust you." Watson glances at her sister. "Do you think Gina is up to something and that's why she's offered to stay here and look after Ruby and Harley?"
"You heard her, she thought you and Hugo deserved to get away like the rest of us." She grins at her sister, "Of course, with her and Ruby together, chances are, your wedding will be arranged by the time you get back."
"God," she groans. "Don't even suggest that."
"If you're that worried, why don't you take your trip the first week of the holidays, when Ruby and Harley are on the boat with me and Charlie?"
"Hugo tried to get the time off but he's only just started the job and he's kind of swamped. He needed to call in a favour or two to get someone to cover for him just for a few days and the only time was when Ruby and Harley were going to be with us."
"At least you'll have the first week alone in the house and then a few days away from here."
"It'll be good to be able to run around the house naked again."
Joey snorts, "Since when have you ever done that?"
Watson wiggles her eyebrows at her. "Joey, just because we're sisters, it doesn't mean you know everything about me or what I do."
"Oh please, you get cold in summer so there's no way you'd be running around starkers, especially with your luck for being caught out."
"Ladies," Dex dips his head at them as he walks past.
"Do you think Dex will ever stop smiling?" Watson muses.
"Considering how blown away he is by the pregnancy, I think we're going to have to get used to the smile."
"It's a pity Graves' parents hadn't been as happy." Graves and Dex had driven to the city two days ago to tell their families the good news. While Sid and Marilyn had been overjoyed, Graves' parents had been less than impressed. She had always believed her parents had finally accepted her career as a cop and her marriage, despite their previous reservations that they were too young so she was devastated when things had become quite heated and her mother had accused her of throwing her life away by being lumbered with a baby so young and then let slip how disappointed they actually were that she was wasting her talent and intelligence as a cop. Graves' had run out of the house in tears, now knowing that her parents had no faith in her decisions or ability to make her marriage work.
Gina had arrived only hours before Dex and Graves returned and she had taken one look at Graves' puffy and red eyes and taken her away. Neither of them had any idea what Gina said to her, but Graves' mood had improved and she seemed to appreciate that her friends still treated her the same, including keeping up their teasing.
"What do you think Joey?" Watson points to the picture on the wall as Graves carts a box past them.
"It's definitely crooked."
Graves dumps the box, her hands on her hips as she glares at them. "In case you haven't noticed, this place is a mess so a crooked picture hanging on the wall out of the way is the least of our concerns."
"Pregnancy really has made her grouchy," Joey muses to her sister.
Before Graves' could retort, Harley joins her mother on the seat, snuggling against her side. Joey puts her arm around her, smiling sweetly at Graves. "You were going to say something?"
She bites off the swear words, scowling at Joey, she picks up the box and walks away, muttering, "No, nothing to say at all."
"Mum, can I go over to VJ's?"
"Why don't you wait a little longer, VJ should be here soon."
"It's boring mum, granddad won't let me do anything."
Watson smiles at the folded arm look Harley was giving, reminding her so much of Joey at the same age.
"I'm sure granddad would like a drink."
"And Hugo and Xav," Watson adds.
"Ok," Harley jumps up, rushing off to get drinks for John, Hugo and Xav.
"It's good to see her happy again," Watson says.
"Yeah, it is. This is a big change for her, a new place and a new family."
"She seems ok with Charlie now too," referring to the other day when Gina had brought her to Joey and she had taken an unexpected dislike to Charlie.
"I know that she'd already met Charlie, but I guess it was a bit different knowing she was going to be her step-mum."
"It's a bit like meeting your mother-in-law for the first time, scary."
Joey glances at her sister. "You were lucky, you already knew Gina by the time you and Hugo started dating."
"Barely," she reminds her. "Hugo and I started dating about a month after you moved in with them."
"And about a month later, you were having sleepovers."
Georgie glares at her, "It was more than a month."
"Barely," she says with a grin. "You and Hugo were having eye sex the moment you met."
"Eye sex?"
"You were practically undressing each other with your eyes."
"We weren't that bad," she defends herself, blushing because that's exactly what it had been like.
"Admit it Georgie, you had the hots for him from the first day you visited me at the house," she grins.
"Ok, so I pretty much fell for him the moment I met him."
"You've been with him since you were 17, aren't you sick of him yet," she teases.
"Never."
"You know what sis," Joey puts her arm across her shoulders, "Considering the start in life we got, I think we've done pretty well for ourselves."
"Yeah, we have."
"John doesn't bite," Gina says, coming up beside Charlie.
"Huh?"
Gina chuckles at her, "You seem to be avoiding John."
"Sorry, I'm just," she shrugs, not quite sure what to say. John's arrival that morning with Joey and Harley's stuff from the city had filled her with trepidation, especially after meeting him. She had been surprised at how much he had reminded her of her father, with the same commanding presence and also the way he had spoken to the removalist who had dropped a box.
"He's not really anything like your father," Gina says, as if reading her mind. "My kids and Ruby have filled me in on the type of man your father is and I can assure you, John is nothing like that."
Charlie watches as John accepts the drink from Harley, kissing her on top of her head, something her father never would have done with Ruby. "My father never accepted Ruby, even though she was his flesh and blood."
"Your father is an idiot. John loves his step-kids and he loves Harley like a granddaughter. Don't get me wrong, John can be a hard task master, but he's fair and he will always be there for those he cares about."
"You're right, he's nothing like my father."
"Charlie, would you like a drink?" Harley offers shyly.
Charlie smiles at Harley, taking the offered drink. "Thank you Harley." She smiles as Harley moves away.
"Nice to see things have gotten better between you two."
"Thanks for the tip about the triple chocolate choc chip bikkies, they worked a treat."
Charlie smiles, remembering how she had gotten into Harley's good book by helping her make the bikkies and they had made quite a mess, a mess which Joey had only been too willing to help her clean up. She blushes suddenly at the memory of the way Joey had whispered how much she loved chocolate and then licked the chocolate off her lips, her neck and wherever it covered her skin. Charlie had been so aroused she'd nearly taken Joey in the kitchen but knowing Harley could return from the bathroom at any time, she'd been left feeling frustrated, especially when Joey had promised to make up for it later that night.
"Must have been some amazing bikkies," Gina teases, making Charlie blush even more.
"Oh god," Charlie covers her face.
"There's nothing wrong with being in love and expressing that love Charlie."
"You're her mum though so it's kind of embarrassing."
Gina chuckles, resting her hand on Charlie's shoulder. "Oh Charlie, you're going to be such a target for my kids."
"I already am," she mutters.
An hour later, Leah arrives with lunch for them all, along with a shy VJ and a very pleased Nicole whose eyes had zeroed in on a shirtless Xavier the moment she was out of the car.
"Sorry we're late but there was a problem at the diner and now Roman's stuck there."
"Bet he's wishing he'd stayed as a civilian instructor with the army rather than dealing with the mundane things," Watson jokes.
"Considering the mess a blocked sink can make, army life would be looking a whole lot easier," Leah says. "But after he was forced to leave us when the rapist was still here, he decided the money wasn't worth it, especially now with the baby on the way. We were lucky his last job paid so well, otherwise we may have lost the diner." Leah nods toward Xavier and Nicole as she takes the seat next to Joey. "Should I be worried?"
Eyeing off her brother and the way he was flirting with Nicole, Joey sighs, "As much as I love my little brother, when it comes to girls, he's a jerk."
"He's a little older than Nicole, isn't he?"
"He's nearly 20."
"God, why did it have to be me here and not Roman," she mutters.
"Nicole still giving you a hard time about the pregnancy?" asks Watson.
"She never really had a problem with VJ when I married her father, but I guess this baby is different, it will be her father's and it's made her jealous."
"She'll come around," Joey says, "And at least VJ's big on the idea."
"Only because he's convinced it's a boy." Leah chuckles, "When I told him it could be a girl, he wasn't entirely enthusiastic at the idea and he wanted me to promise to make sure I had a boy. I had to explain the details to him."
"Just think Joey, you'll need to have that conversation with Harley soon," Watson says with a grin.
Joey scowls at her, "Don't take too much joy in my misery," she pats her sister's belly, "With any luck, that's a little Watson girl and we both know what they're like."
"It's a boy," Watson says determinedly.
"Excuse me," Joey says suddenly, getting up from her seat and walking away.
"I can't believe she is the same woman I heard so many tales about," Leah muses as Joey slips her arms around Charlie's waist.
Charlie leans back when she feels a presence behind her, Joey's arms slipping around her waist. Resting her chin on Charlie's shoulder, Joey watches the activity around them. "Our place is coming together."
"It's wonderful, isn't it."
"Want to sneak out somewhere?" Joey suggests.
"Mum!"
Charlie chuckles, "I have a feeling we're going to need to get used to having plenty of interruptions."
Stepping away from Charlie, Joey turns to face her daughter. "Leah's taking VJ to the movies later, can I go with them?"
Joey glances up at Leah who nods. "Of course you can."
"If it's ok with you Joey, Harley can come home with me afterwards and stay the night."
"You don't need to do that Leah."
"Ruby's already staying over with Nicole, so it will give you and Charlie a chance to relax tonight."
"I like the sound of that," Charlie whispers in her ear, making Joey shiver.
"Thanks for that Leah."
"Look, I'm not going to be much help here, so why don't I take the kids now," Leah says, her eyes once again on Nicole.
Following her line of sight, Joey rolls her eyes at her brother who was practically groping Nicole. "Good idea." Joey looks down at her daughter, "I think your overnight bag is still in car." Joey hugs her. "I don't want you giving Leah a hard time."
"No mum," she says with a long-suffering sigh.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Harley gives her another hug and then surprises Charlie with a hug before running off with VJ to get her bag.
"This is great Leah," Charlie says.
Leah grins at them, "Believe me, I intend to collect when the little one arrives."
"If you want us to babysit, you may have to book or we'll have a bit of a log jam of babies."
Leah chuckles. "It does seem a bit that way."
Dragging a reluctant Nicole away, along with Ruby and April, the adults are finally alone.
"Now, what was I saying?" Joey says.
"Girls, can you help me with unpacking the kitchen?"
Joey sighs at Gina's interruption. "At least we'll have the place to ourselves tonight," she murmurs, letting Charlie take her hand and drag her toward the kitchen.
A few hours later, Joey finishes rinsing the dinner plates off and sets them aside. "Wow, that was a lot of hard work today."
"Yeah, it must have been hard work, sitting on your arse all day, ordering every one about."
Joey leans back against the sink, "Well, somebody had to do it."
Charlie smiles, shaking her head in amusement. Joey walks over to her, circling her arms around her waist. "Our first night in our first home together and we're all alone."
Charlie drapes her arms around her neck, "So, how are we going to spend it?"
"I once heard that it was good luck to make love in every room of a new place," Joey says with a seductive smile.
"Our kids' rooms would be a little too weird for me, but that still leaves us a few rooms."
"So," Joey grips her hips, pushing her back against the kitchen table. "Where do we start?"
"How about here," Charlie says, sitting on the table, grabbing a handful of Joey's top and dragging her between her legs, their lips crushing together.
Joey melts into the kiss, her hand roaming up and down Charlie's side, enjoying the way her touch made Charlie twitch and moan. Her hand pauses at the bottom of Charlie's top, drawing back, she gazes into Charlie's eyes as she slowly lifts the top up and over Charlie's head, revealing a little lacy black bra. Dropping the top to the floor, Charlie helps Joey to remove her own, before moving back in closer.
Charlie sighs when Joey gently nibbles on her earlobe, slowly kissing her way down her neck, along her collarbone, her fingertips tracing patterns over her stomach, causing the skin beneath her fingers to shake in anticipation.
"Oh god," Charlie gasps when Joey's hand cups her breast, wishing desperately that Joey had use of both hands, her other breast feeling neglected as Joey squeezes gently, her thumb playing with the erect nipple through the lacy material. As if reading Charlie's thoughts, Joey's lips find her other nipple. Groaning, Charlie reaches behind her, unhooking her bra, freeing her breasts for Joey. Every flick of Joey's tongue or graze of her teeth over her hardened nipples drew Charlie closer and closer. Moaning with pleasure, she lays back, her back arching as Joey's lips finally leave her breasts, kissing her way down her belly.
Charlie groans with disappointment when Joey suddenly stops. "Please don't stop Joey," she begs.
"I'm not stopping Charlie," she grins a little embarrassed, "It's just not that easy to get your pants off one handed."
"Oh." Hoping off the table, Charlie makes short work of her pants and knickers, quickly moving back onto the table.
Joey chuckles at her impatience, leaning over her, capturing her lips. "I think I need to start again," she murmurs against Charlie's lips, before torturing Charlie by retracing her steps from earlobe down, this time going even slower.
"You're killing me Joey," Charlie groans, her body struggling to deal with the sensations Joey was causing.
"It's only early evening Charlie," her voice vibrating against Charlie's belly, "We have all the time in the world."
Joey slips to her knees, Charlie's body quivering with anticipation. Kissing the inside of Charlie's thigh, Joey smirks when Charlie's legs hook over her shoulders, trying to pull her closer. Kissing the other thigh, Joey blows on Charlie's sex, her warm breath making Charlie buck her hips.
"Please Joey, I need you right now," her breath coming in gasps.
Joey kisses her way slowly up her body, the material on her bra brushing over Charlie's hardened nipples, making them both gasp as her lips once again find Charlie's.
She groans into Joey's mouth when she feels Joey's hand brush over her sex, teasing her unmercifully by entering just a little before pulling out. The intense emotions and sensations from Joey's exquisite torture had Charlie climaxing the moment she entered her fully.
Joey stares into her eyes, waiting for her to come down before starting to thrust her fingers in and out. Joey kisses her passionately, Charlie's hips bucking upward, meeting each thrust. Feeling Charlie nearing another orgasm, Joey increases her thrusts.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Charlie screams loudly, grinding herself hard against Joey's hand. Lying spent on the table, she sighs when Joey's fingers leave her.
Just when Charlie thought she couldn't take much more, Joey kneels between her legs again, kissing the inside of her thighs once again, working her way closer. She glances up, Charlie's chest still heaving from her last orgasm, her eyes closed.
"Oh god!" she groans when Joey thrusts her tongue between her tender lips, thrusting in time and again. Charlie's hips rise up of their own accord, moving in an urgent rhythm against her. Her back arches when Joey plunges two fingers into her, her body shuddering with ecstasy, her hands gripping the edge of the table as Joey's tongue and fingers quickly had her riding the waves of pleasure toward an orgasm that leaves her gasping for breath.
Joey lies on the table beside her, her tender kiss helping to calm Charlie's body.
"God, I don't think I can move," she murmurs, curling against Joey, not even feeling the hard surface of the table.
"That's one room down, where to next?"
Charlie stares at her, her desire and strength rekindled by the thought of doing to Joey what she just did to her. "How about the study?"
"Sounds good," she leans over, her lips touching hers briefly. "You might need to catch your breath first."
Joey collapses on the bed beside Charlie, her body still coming down from the massive orgasm Charlie had just given her. "God, I could sleep for a week," she murmurs.
"At least we'll have good luck," Charlie smiles happily.
With what strength she had left, Joey gathers Charlie in her arms, kissing her tenderly. "I heard if you make love twice in every room, you have even better luck."
"You're just making that up and I'm thinking that whoever said it was good luck to make love in every room, didn't mean for it to be in the one night."
"We have two girls Charlie, chances are, this will be the only night we will be able to do this."
"Joey, you're as wasted as I am," she smirks. "And my elbow is going to have a bruise from banging it against the shower wall."
"Maybe we should have considered the size of the shower before we rented the place."
"Before I met you, the size of the shower was never really much of a consideration and as you said, we have two girls, so I doubt the bathroom is going to be free for us to even shower, let alone get up to more and it's only going to get worse once Harley becomes a teen."
"Oh god," Joey frowns, "Harley as a teenager is a scary thought."
"We have a few years to prepare for that."
Charlie rolls onto her back, pulling Joey with her. Snuggling against her, Joey rests her head on Charlie's shoulder. "It's a good thing the girls aren't going to be home until lunch, it'll give us time to tidy up," she murmurs.
Charlie chuckles, "It's a good thing this place looked like a bomb site to begin with or we may have had some explaining to do."
Joey lifts her head, gazing into Charlie's eyes, "This already feels like home."
"I know." Charlie looks around their bedroom, "Everything just feels so right."
"We're together in a new place, we have both our girls with us now and my job is safe, I'd say things are more than right."
"I never thought things could be this good."
Joey leans over, pressing her lips softly to Charlie's. "This is just the beginning Charlie," she promises, settling back down against her shoulder, both of them drifting to sleep.
Still a couple more chapters to go