Heading up the steps, Charlie gasps at the scene before her. The rails were lined with coloured lights and cushions were laid out on the deck like a bed. At the centre, was a beautifully set candlelit dinner. "Now I know why she wanted the bigger boat," she thinks to herself, before her eyes finally settle on Joey. Her mouth drops open at the vision of Joey, her hair tied back and looking drop-dead gorgeous in a tuxedo which had been perfectly tailored to her body. "God, I hope you are going to propose," she blurts out.
Joey chuckles at her impatience. "You said that you wanted a proper proposal."
"I didn't quite mean like this, but wow." She looks her over from head to toe, "I'm glad you took me literally because you are gorgeous."
"And you are the most beautiful woman in the world." She hands Charlie a single rose.
Charlie holds the rose to her nose, loving the perfumed scent. "I love my dress Joey."
"I'm embarrassed to admit that I had help."
"Ruby?"
"God no, she'd never have been able to keep it secret from you. It was actually Georgie who chose the design, I picked the size and colour."
"Remind me to thank her and I guessed you had a hand in the size. It fits perfectly."
"Join me." She holds her elbow out to Charlie, who links her arm through it.
Charlie allows herself to be led to the table, smiling when she sees all of her favourite foods, including every flavour of her favourite chocolates. "As lovely as this all looks, I don't know if I can wait Joey."
"I have no intention of hurrying Charlie." She pulls a chair out for Charlie. "So sit back and enjoy." Picking up a bottle of champagne, she pours a glass each. Holding it up, she toasts, "To us."
Charlie clinks her glass against Joey's, then takes a sip, savouring the taste of the champagne as she looks around her. "I can't believe you managed to arrange all of this."
"It does help that Leah happens to be a great cook and knows all of your favourite foods."
"Did Leah know why you wanted all of this?"
"I didn't tell her but I'm sure she suspects and John and Gina know because I asked them to help with the decorations, because," she raises her hand. "It was a little too fiddly for me."
"Joey, I don't care that you had help to get everything ready, just knowing that this was all your idea means the world to me."
"Shall we eat?"
"You really are going to make me wait, aren't you?"
"Charlie, we both know that I'm going to propose, so what's the rush?"
"Because I want to get you out of that tux and make love to you under the moonlight," her words rush out.
As tempted as she was to propose then and there, Joey steels herself, smiling at Charlie and shaking her head. "We do this right."
With the beautiful food and Joey's easy charm distracting her, Charlie was enjoying the evening, so much so that she was actually taken by surprise when Joey suddenly stood up. Though she had been expecting it, her heart begins to race in anticipation as Joey kneels by her side. "Oh my god," she looks at Joey's hand in wonder, which for the first time since the injury, was in a soft fist. She touches her hand gently. "How long have you had this much movement?"
"Not long and it's doubtful I'll ever be able to make a strong fist, but I can almost grip a pen now."
"It's more than I ever expected."
"Same here. I wanted to surprise you with the extra progress I'd made."
"You have." Charlie keeps hold of her hand.
"I had this big speech all prepared but for the life of me, I can't remember a single word," Joey admits in embarrassment.
"Joey, you don't need the words, this whole night has been one big proposal."
Joey takes a deep breath, "Charlie, you are my life and I cannot imagine my life without you in it." She opens her hand, revealing the most gorgeous engagement ring Charlie had ever seen. Taking the ring out of the box, Joey's hand shakes as she holds it up, "Will you do me the honour of being my wife?"
"Yes!" She cups Joey's face, kissing her passionately. "God yes, I'll marry you," she murmurs against her lips, her heart catching as Joey slides the ring on her finger. "Oh my god, it's beautiful."
Forgetting about her dress, she kneels in front of Joey, her lips finding hers again.
"Charlie."
"Mmmm," not wanting to lose contact with Joey's lips.
"It would be more comfortable on our knees if we go over to the cushions."
Their kiss barely breaking, they somehow get to their feet and make their way over to the cushions.
Charlie groans when Joey's hands slide gently up her back, the zip on her dress slowly pulled down. She shivers when the cool evening air meets with her skin which was burning with desire. Taking her time, Joey slides the dress down to Charlie's waist, bending to take a nipple in her mouth while her hand cups the other.
"Oh god," Charlie closes her eyes, thrusting her chest harder into Joey's mouth and hand. Cupping both breasts, Joey kisses her again, kneading gently while Charlie's fingers worked on the buttons of her shirt.
Charlie grins against Joey's lips when her hands encounter Joey's bra-less breasts. "Full commando?"
"Thought I'd save you some time."
"Very considerate." She slides her hand down the inside of Joey's pants, cupping her. "Very considerate indeed," she smirks at how wet Joey was.
When they were both naked, Joey gently lowers Charlie onto the cushions, their nipples brushing over each others as Joey moves over her.
Charlie stares up at her, losing herself in the gorgeous brown eyes she so loved. Wanting this moment to last forever, she closes her eyes as Joey leans down, her kiss so soft Charlie barely felt it, the touch of hands roaming her body as soft as her lips.
A soft moan escapes her lips when Joey's hand brushes over her hardened nipple, twisting gently, her tongue gently gliding over her lips. Opening her mouth, Charlie accepts Joey inside. Running her hands over Joey's back, she pulls her down harder against her, crushing their breasts together, their kiss growing more frantic.
Charlie gasps when Joey's hand moves lower, her fingers teasing her by sliding through the wetness between her legs. Raising her hips against Joey, she tries to encourage Joey who was having none of it. Charlie groans in disappointment when Joey's hand moves away and she slides to her side. "Joey, please!"
Shaking her head, Joey cuts off any further protests with her lips, her hand cupping and kneading Charlie's breast, her thumb playing with the over sensitised nipple. Leaving Charlie's lips, Joey kisses her way along Charlie's neck, paying particular attention to the valley at the base, before going lower. "Oh god," Charlie thrusts her chest out, the light brush of Joey's teeth on her nipples driving her wild. Her hands tangle in Joey's hair, trying to hold her head at her breasts.
Joey sucks gently on the nipple, loving the way Charlie responded to every touch, to every tug of her teeth on her nipples. Her hand glides between Charlie's legs again, groaning at how wet she was.
Opening her legs invitingly, Charlie thrusts her hips up when Joey moves between them, gasping at the contact. Pressing her lips hard against Charlie's, Joey gently thrusts her hips, both of them moaning in pleasure as they rubbed against each other. Taking Charlie's hand in hers, Joey leads her to where their passion was growing with each gentle thrust of their hips. They pause, looking deeply into each other's eyes, not needing words as they enter each other at the same time.
"Oh fuckkkkkkkkkkk," Charlie's hips buck hard against the invasion, climaxing loudly.
Joey covers Charlie's mouth with her own moments before her own climax, their moans and cries of pleasure filling the evening air as their hips and fingers move faster, bringing each other time and again. Feeling the intense pleasure rising again, Joey presses down against Charlie's hand, her body stiffening as another orgasm rips through her.
Charlie looks up at the sight of her fiancée climaxing, her back arching as she joins Joey in screaming out her pleasure.
Collapsing on top of Charlie, Joey groans when she feels Charlie leave her. Rolling to her side, she cuddles up against Charlie. "I love you," she whispers breathlessly into her ear.
"I'm rather fond of you, myself."
Joey leans over, brushing her lips over hers. "Well, you got your wish." Charlie looks at her with a frown. "You got me out of the tux and made love to me under the moonlight."
Charlie glances admiringly at her lover's body which was glistening from their lovemaking under the moonlight. "I'm not sure whether I like you more in or out of the tux."
"I can put it back on."
"No way!"
Joey chuckles, "I guess you prefer me out of it."
"I guess I do." She holds up her hand up, loving the way the moonlight sparkled off her ring. "And I definitely prefer my finger with a ring on it."
"I always wanted to marry you Charlie, I just," she shrugs. "I guess I just wanted to wait until the right moment and now that all the court cases are over and I don't have to testify anymore, we're free to concentrate on just us and our family."
"I never doubted your commitment to us Joey, but I must admit," she admires her ring again. "I was a little worried about whether I'd ever end up with a ring on my finger."
"There is another reason why I held off." She takes a deep breath before telling Charlie she had sold her house in the city.
"You what!"
"I sold it." She grins, "At the end of the day, it was just a house and it was time to let go of it. I also knew how much you wanted to buy a house together." She reaches over to the tux jacket left carelessly on the deck. "The sale was finalised only last week, then our house was put up for sale and it just seemed like fate." She hands Charlie some folded papers. "Which is why I made an offer to the owner."
Charlie stares at the papers, her eyes widening. "Oh my god, the house is ours."
"I would have told you earlier, but he only accepted the offer at lunchtime."
"I don't care Joey, only that it's our house now."
"It will be, as soon as we organise our finances."
Charlie stares at the papers again, "How did you get him so low?"
"I am the step daughter of a man who could get the Pope to sell the Vatican," Joey grins. "Nah, actually, the offer I made was at market value and he decided he didn't want to waste more money and time in going to auction."
"You know what this means," she says excitedly. "With the money from the sale of both of our homes we'll be able to buy the house outright."
"We'll be free of a mortgage, be able to go away for our honeymoon and be able to put our girls through uni if they choose to go."
"God, I can't believe I'm getting married and we're going to own our first home together."
"Worth the wait?" Joey asks with a cheeky grin.
"A house, a ring, you in a tux," she smirks, "You out of a tux, yeah, I think it was worth the wait." She pushes Joey onto her back, moving over her. "I just wish we could spend all night here."
"We can." Joey grins up at her. "Gina's going to watch the girls and I happen to know you're not working tomorrow."
"All night, huh?"
"Gina's not expecting us back until at least 5 tomorrow."
"Then we can take our time," Charlie murmurs, her lips capturing Joey's. They make love unhurriedly throughout the night.
Having spent a relaxing day on the boat, doing little more than talking and making love, Charlie laments the fact that their romantic getaway was over as they walk up the path to their home.
"We could make a run for it," Joey suggests, just before the door opens and Harley comes flying out.
"Mum," Harley runs over to her. "Someone brought our house, we're going to have to move."
"It's ok honey, Charlie and I are buying it."
"Really!" She jumps up and down excitedly.
"Yes, really."
"Then can I paint my room?" she asks with a look of appeal.
"We'll talk about it." She shakes her head when Harley goes running back inside, saying she wanted to paint it pink. "I did say we'd talk about it, didn't I?"
Charlie chuckles. "To a ten year old, that means yes."
"Oh, the joys of motherhood," she mutters, taking Charlie's hand. "It's too late to run now."
Smiling, Charlie kisses her softly, before heading toward the door.
"Surprise!" their family and friends jump out at them the moment they were in the door.
"Please tell me you are getting married," Ruby begs when Charlie and Joey continue to stare at the banners congratulating them on their engagement.
In answer, Charlie raises her hand. "Oh my god, that is gorgeous." Ruby takes her mother's hand, nearly ripping it off in her attempt to get a closer look.
"Ruby, my hand!"
"Sorry." Ruby hugs her suddenly. "I am so happy for you and you'd better not change your mind."
"Don't worry Ruby, this is one wedding I'm looking forward to."
"So when is the wedding, where are you getting married, can I be your bridesmaid mum or maybe I could be Joey's best man..." Ruby rambles on, not even April putting a hand over her mouth stopping her.
"Ruby, we only just got engaged."
"You should get married on the beach," she suggests when April gives up and removes her hand from her mouth.
"Actually, I kind of like that idea," Joey says, glancing slyly at Charlie. "We know a great spot that's nice and secluded."
Charlie blushes when she realises where Joey was talking about.
Ruby throws her arms around Joey, hugging her tightly. "You really are going to be my mum now."
Kissing the top of Ruby's head, Joey hugs her back.
"So what was Harley saying about painting her room pink?" Watson asks her sister.
"Harley thinks because we are now the proud owners of this house," Joey says casually, "That she should be allowed to paint her room."
It takes a moment for her words to sink. "Oh my god, you brought the house together," Ruby cries out excitedly.
Watson shakes her head, "You propose and buy a house?"
Joey grins, "You know me sis, I don't do anything by halves."
Now six months pregnant and with a pronounced baby bump, Watson hugs her sister awkwardly. "It's about time."
"It's only been a few months."
"For you, that's slow."
Joey chuckles. "You've done good Squirt," Hugo says as he hugs both her and his wife.
"Thanks and don't call me Squirt."
"I suppose you'll want time off for your honeymoon," he complains exaggeratedly as he steps back.
"We haven't even set a date yet."
"With Gina, Georgie and Ruby in charge, you'll be married by Tuesday."
"It's already Saturday."
"You're right, make it Monday." He puts his arm around her shoulders, "Seriously Joey, I'm happy for you."
"Thanks Hugo."
Gina comes forward, hugging Charlie. "You're already part of the family, but welcome again."
"Thanks Gina."
"There's no escaping now," she warns Charlie.
Chuckling, Charlie assures her she wouldn't try, even if she was able. "I just wish our marriage was legal."
"Who cares about a bit of paper, as long as you believe it's a marriage, then it's a marriage."
"Then it's definitely a marriage."
She turns her attention to Joey. "My little girl is getting married," Gina says with a tearful hug.
"Gina!"
"Well you are my little girl but I'm proud of the woman you've become."
"You had a lot to do with that."
"Bullshit," she says, surprising Joey. "You're the one who wanted to make something of your life and you did all the hard work to achieve that."
"I couldn't have done it without your support though."
"Ok, I'll take some of the credit." She holds Joey at arms length. "I'm extremely happy you're getting married, but couldn't you have warned me about the house, when we saw the sold sticker go over the for sale sign earlier, we thought you'd be moving."
"Sorry, I had other things on my mind." She grins at Gina, "What if Charlie had said no, this whole surprise party would have been rather embarrassing."
"Oh please, as if Charlie was ever going to say no."
"I may have," Charlie replies. "Really, I might have said no," she tells everyone when they all stare at her.
Joey moves behind her, sliding her arms around her waist. "I don't think they're buying it."
Charlie shrugs, leaning back against Joey. "Probably because they know there was no way I'd have said no to you."
"Oh god, if they're going to start making out, can we go home."
"Hugo!" Gina scolds her son.
"I'm only joking, but now that the happy couple are here, can we get this party started?"
"Excellent idea," Gina says, heading into the kitchen.
"Why don't you be a good boy Hugo and go and help her," suggests Joey.
"If I must."
"I still can't believe you married him Georgie."
"He's much better trained at home," her sister assures her. "It's only when I let him out in public that his manners desert him."
"Do you want to mingle with everyone or sneak away to our bedroom," Joey whispers into Charlie's ear.
"I'd say bedroom but with this mob, we're likely to end up with an audience."
"Mingle it is."
"I never thought I'd ever see the day when you'd be so excited about getting married," Leah says to Charlie once the party was in full swing.
"I guess in the past, I wasn't all that enthusiastic about marriage because I always knew that deep down, the latest guy I was with just wasn't the one."
"Because it was a woman you wanted."
"No, it was just Joey that I wanted." She smiles half in amusement. "Joey is still the only woman I've felt any attraction for."
"Gee, thanks," Leah says with a sad pout.
"Sorry Leah, you're just not my type."
With a heavy sigh, Leah tells her she'd learn to live with the rejection.
"Would being my maid-of-honour help you get over the rejection?"
Leah makes a show of thinking about it, grinning suddenly. "It just might."
"Then be my maid-of-honour."
"I'd love to." She looks over at Joey who was talking to Graves. "So how was the proposal?"
"It was amazing," she proceeds to fill her friend in.
"About time you made an honest woman of her."
Joey smirks at Graves. "Somebody had to."
"You didn't knock her up, did you?"
"Oh yeah, it was a miraculous conception."
"I always knew you had it in you."
Joey grins, "I'm good, but I'm not that good."
"I'm so happy," she says tearfully.
"Oh god, you're not going to cry as well, are you."
"It's the damn hormones." She wipes her eyes. "I nearly broke into tears the other day when I was reading a guy his rights."
"The armed robber?"
She nods. "He probably would have confessed if I had become a blubbering mess."
"You ok?"
"I told you, it's just the hormones."
"So it has nothing to do with Indi being released from hospital next week."
"Thanks a lot Joey, now I will be in tears." She looks over to her husband who was playing a game with Harley and VJ. "Sid saw her the other day and he said she had responded well to treatment but I'm still not sure if I want her around, especially with the baby on the way." She sighs, "And I feel bad for feeling that way. Dex loves his sister and I know that if I asked him to, he'd tell her to stay away and I don't want to make him do that."
"Why don't you just visit her in the city on the weekends, see how it goes before making a decision."
"Dex has been so supportive since my parents ditched me, I guess the least I can do, is give his sister another chance."
"You've found a great husband Graves and I'm sure he understands your reservations." She gives her a comforting squeeze. "And maybe Indi will surprise you."
"Yeah, maybe." She smiles, "Enough of my problems, this is your night."
"Oh, oh, my night is about to get a lot more interesting."
Graves looks in the direction Joey was. "Jesus, what the hell is he thinking bringing Freya here?"
"It's Xavier, he doesn't think, at least not with his brain." She shakes her head, "I could kill him for bringing her here." They both spare a glance at Nicole who was looking at Xavier, the hurt on her face obvious. "I half wish Roman had done more than ban them from seeing each other."
"Finding his daughter in bed with her older boyfriend, Xav's damn lucky Roman let him get out alive, especially when he dumped Nicole the next day and hooked up with Freya."
"I love my little brother, but he has a lot to learn about the right way to treat a lady."
"Nicole's classy for her age, Freya's just a slut."
"Graves!"
"Oh please, she got expelled from school after being caught a second time having sex in a storeroom and she only latched onto Xav because she thinks he's got prospects."
"He does have prospects," Joey admits, as surprised as everyone was at the way Xavier had thrown himself into his apprenticeship. "When he's finished his apprenticeship, John's going to sign over shares of the business to him."
"And I bet around that time, Freya finds out she's pregnant."
"She's not Indi."
"Not yet."
"We've all warned him about her." Joey shrugs, "It's his problem if he gets burned."
Freya smirks at them as she walks past.
"Bitch," Graves says, a little too loudly judging by the way Freya was scowling.
"A little catty, aren't we?" jokes Joey.
"I'm the size of a house, so yeah, I'm catty."
"You're not that big."
"I'm twice the size of Georgie and she's two months further along."
"You're not twice the size," she assures her yet again.
"I am bigger." When Joey says nothing, Graves glares at her. "Well?"
Knowing she was in a no win situation whatever she said, Joey tells her she wasn't bigger and then rolls her eyes when Graves calls her a liar. "Graves, you're gorgeous."
"Really?"
"If I didn't have Charlie and you were gay, I'd do you." She frowns, "That doesn't sound right."
Grinning, Graves hugs her. "Thank you for putting up with my shitty moods."
"Well, you've put up with mine for long enough, I figured it's only fair I do the same."
"You bitch, you did that deliberately." Everyone turns at Freya's screech.
"You should have looked where you were going," Nicole retorts, feeling satisfied at the mess her drink was making of Freya's dress.
"Freya, come on." Xavier tries to urge her away.
"Aren't you going to stand up for me?"
"I didn't see what happened."
"That fucking little whore deliberately tossed her drink on me."
Xavier winces, feeling all eyes on him. "Freya, you can't talk like that when there are kids around."
"I don't give a fuck."
"Well I do," Joey's cold voice making Freya swallow hard. "Xavier, I think your girlfriend should leave."
"Sorry Joey." He pauses. "Congrats on the engagement by the way." He drags Freya out of there.
"I'm sorry for making a scene Joey," Nicole says.
"Next time, use Harley's raspberry lemonade, it'll stain Freya's clothes more, but just don't do it on the carpet." She leaves a shocked Nicole and heads over to her fiancée.
"Corrupting the youth?"
"Better flying drink than flying fists."
"True." Charlie wraps her arms around Joey's neck. "Maybe we should have chosen the bedroom."
"It'll all be over soon."
"Finally, they're all gone," Joey groans some hours later, collapsing face down onto the bed next to Charlie.
"I'm totally beat."
Joey rolls onto her back. "This is going to be our first night under our own roof and I'm too tired to do anything about it."
"We have the rest of our lives."
"I like the sound of that."
She snuggles against Joey, closing her eyes. "I don't think I can move."
"I quite like you where you are." She kisses Charlie's forehead, closing her own eyes and quickly joining Charlie in a well-earned sleep.
We skip forward again in the final chapter.