I think I might be losing my mind. I blame the bug I've got and the severe dehydration that gallons of water has so far failed to fix! I believe I was meant to update this yesterday and apparently I posted the same chapter of "Hooked" twice. Very strange! But hopefully it is all fixed now. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Nine

It was early evening when Joey took Charlie back to Summer Bay, where Charlie had arranged to meet Ruby at home. She realised that it could already be too late but if she could help it, she didn't want her daughter to find out about Joey's return from anyone but her.

"Good luck," Joey said, killing the engine as they pulled up outside the house they had once shared.

"Thanks," Charlie said, climbing a little inelegantly off the bike.

She took her helmet off and secured it to the back of the bike so that Joey could take it home with her.

"Do I get a kiss goodbye?" Joey asked.

Despite her helmet covering her mouth, Charlie was sure she saw Joey smirk. She smiled and nodded, stepping closer. Joey took the helmet off so that she could meet Charlie's warm lips. Charlie closed her eyes, melting against her. When they finally parted, Charlie had a sudden flashback of the morning after the first night they had spent together. She had kissed Joey goodbye and invited her to spend the night. They'd been discussing how to tell Ruby, not knowing that she had already spotted them on her way to school.

"Will you come in with me?" the police officer asked suddenly.

Joey looked surprised.

"You want us to tell her together?" she asked.

Charlie nodded and reached for Joey's hand.

"I did every single thing wrong last time," she said. "So I'm going to do it differently. You offered to help me tell Ruby the first time and I turned you down when I shouldn't have. So would you help me tell her now?"

Joey smiled and climbed off her bike, keeping hold of Charlie's hand.

"I'd love to," she said, pulling her in for another kiss. "And for the record, you didn't do everything wrong last time. There were some bits you were awesome at."

She chuckled at the way Charlie flushed with bashfulness as they headed into the house.

"Where have you…?" Ruby started when Charlie walked into the lounge.

The teenager immediately trailed off when she realised who was standing behind her mother, holding her hand.

"Joey?" she managed, standing up quickly.

Charlie and Joey both smiled rather shyly, not entirely sure of the reception they would receive.

"Hey, Rubes," Joey replied casually.

Charlie couldn't help but marvel about how confident she had become. Once upon a time, Joey Collins had apologised for merely existing. Now, it seemed like nothing ever worried her. Charlie hoped that she could learn to be a bit more like that too one day. And she was looking forward to Joey's influence.

"How…? I mean, what…? How come you're here?" Ruby managed.

Charlie moved further into the room and gestured for them all to sit down. Joey perched in an armchair while mother and daughter took the couch.

"How come?" Ruby asked.

"I'm back to make a go of things with Charlie," Joey stated.

Ruby looked startled, lost somewhere between pleased and anxious.

"What about… Angelo?" she asked her mother, whispering the last word as if Joey wouldn't be able to hear her.

"We broke up," Charlie explained.

"Because of Joey?" Ruby asked, hoping she didn't sound rude

"Because of a lot of things but Joey coming back to me was the push I needed to get out of an unhappy relationship," Charlie told her.

Ruby still looked confused.

"But I thought you loved Angelo," she said.

"I tried to," Charlie admitted. "But it just… didn't work."

"No wonder he looked so miserable when I saw him earlier," Ruby mused.

"When did you see him?" Charlie wondered.

"I stopped by the restaurant to see if you were there," her daughter said.

She turned to smirk at both Charlie and Joey.

"Obviously you were busy," she commented.

Joey smirked back. Charlie was embarrassed but thrilled to realise any shame over her being in love with a woman was long gone. She hoped that she could now be the person she had always wanted to be, the person that could commit and be happy in a relationship with the person she considered to be her soul mate.

"So are you… back together for real?" Ruby asked. "Like an exclusive couple?"

"Well, we haven't really had that conversation yet but I certainly hope we can be," Joey replied without hesitation. "For now, we're taking things slowly and one day at a time."

Charlie reached for her hand. Ruby observed their interaction with interest.

"Well, congratulations, I guess," she said brightly.

She hugged first Charlie and then Joey.

"I'm really happy for you," she said sincerely. "You already look happier than you've been since… well, since Joey left last year, Charlie. And Joey, I'm really happy you're home. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, Ruby," Joey said. "Sorry I was late. But I'm hoping that late is better than never. I really want to stay this time."

Next time… Charlie and Joey come face to face with Angelo…