Chapter Fifty

Charlie and Joey let themselves into their hotel room. Dumping their bags on the floor, they shut the door behind them and melted into each other's arms. Charlie moaned against Joey's mouth, kissing her deeply and nudging her backwards towards the bed. Her whole body tingled with desire and longing. With Angelo's team taking over the shark attack case and Xavier coming forward about the fact that it was his autistic brother, Brendan who had injured Roman, things at worked seemed to be calming down. And it was the perfect opportunity for Charlie to take a weekend completely off work and be with the woman she loved. Laying Joey back onto the mattress, Charlie never let their lips part. Joey wrapped her arms around Charlie's neck, pulling her as close as possible. She lifted her legs to wrap them around Charlie's hips, bringing their bodies tightly together. Joey's whole body throbbed with anticipation of what Charlie's sister had loudly and frequently referred to as their 'dirty weekend away'. To be fair, it was pretty much true. Neither woman was planning on actually emerging from the hotel room for the next couple of days. With room service on hand and a nice big bed with an en suite shower, there was nothing else they needed but each other. It felt so good to get away, even though they hadn't even left town. The house was extra crowded now that Nicole had moved into Ruby's room. Roman's new friend, Gardy, the guy that Charlie had picked up for speeding and instantly disliked, was making her uncomfortable and it seemed that father was choosing his friend over his daughter. Leah had come to terms with the break-up and was putting a brave face on things, largely for VJ's sake. And Charlie, having worn herself out at work and neglected Joey terribly, was determined to make it up to her by a real weekend of togetherness. They continued to kiss and, supporting herself on one elbow, Charlie used her other hand to stroke Joey's hair.

"I've missed you so much," she said softly.

They kissed again. Joey kept her legs wrapped round Charlie, never wanting her to slip from her grasp. Charlie appreciated the grip and leant in closer, tracing kisses across Joey's throat. She reached the edge of Joey's t-shirt and frowned.

"This needs to go," she decided.

Grinning, Joey relaxed her grip and sat up slightly while Charlie tackled her t-shirt. Admiring the image before her, Charlie planted more soft kisses over Joey's chest. She kissed her over her bra, thrilled to feel her lover's response through the material.

"This is also an inconvenience," she said, immediately reaching round to unclasp the item.

She flung it off the bed and lay Joey flat on her back. Easing herself up off the mattress, Charlie undid Joey's jeans and pulled them down, pleased when her underwear came with it. Joey co-operated by kicking off her shoes. They fell between Charlie's feet with a quiet thud against the carpet. Charlie knelt on the bed, one leg each side of Joey. She gazed down at her. Joey took her breath away.

"I have missed you so much," Charlie said breathily. "But I have never once forgotten how beautiful you are."

Touched, Joey didn't know what to say. She was relieved of saying anything when Charlie knelt down and kissed her tenderly.

"I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you," Charlie whispered.

***

Several hours later, Charlie and Joey lay naked beneath the covers, tucked into each others embrace. Joey kissed Charlie's collarbone, tracing it with the tip of her tongue. She tasted perspiration and the lingering scent of her girlfriend's perfume. She nuzzled into her neck, feeling safe and loved. She'd been feeling alone for a few weeks now but just the fact that Charlie was here with her now, that she'd booked the hotel and wanted to have a weekend just for them, meant the world to her.

"I do love you, Charlie," she said, almost shyly.

Charlie rested her cheek against the top of Joey's head.

"I know," she said. "I love you too."

Joey tilted her face and she was met with a kiss. This moment felt so perfect. It suddenly felt entirely possible that Angelo was just a friend, just an ex that Charlie had no interest in anymore. She looked at her so adoringly, said and did the right things all the time. Their love was real, Joey knew it was. Nobody could break them. Now she just had to stop fretting and doubting and panicking. She just needed to accept that Charlie was in it for the long haul and had never given Joey a reason to think that she was leaving.

"You're..." Joey began, resting back against Charlie's shoulder.

Her voice caught. She felt Charlie stroking her arm.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Sometimes... sometimes I think it's the craziest thing in the world that you could fall in love with me. You're so amazing and I... I've never been anything special. But you make me feel like I am. I'm not quite sure how you do that."

"It's because you are special, Joey," Charlie told her, still stroking her arm. "And when two people who are meant to be together, meet, they bring out the best in each other. You feel special because you are special and because we love each other so much, you've started to realise it. And you, Joey, well, you make me complete."

Joey lifted Charlie's hand and kissed her palm.

"All I want to do with my life is make you happy," she said.

"Then you've already completed your mission. I'm happier than I've ever been in my whole life and it's all because of you."

They kissed.

"I've never been happier either. I guess that's why..."

Joey trailed off.

"Why what?" Charlie urged.

Joey sighed.

"I get frightened sometimes," she admitted. "I worry that one day you're going to wake up and realise you can do better than me."

Charlie shifted so that Joey was lying on her back against the pillows and Charlie was leaning over her.

"Joey Collins," she said firmly. "There is no such thing."

Covering Joey's body with her own, Charlie kissed her again, letting her hands slip down to caress her gently.

***

Well into the night, Charlie and Joey had eaten dinner as brought up by room service and continued to make love, catching up with all the time they had missed. Now, lying in bed, they kissed over and over again, never able to get enough of each other.

"Let's stay like this forever," Joey suggested.

"Sounds like a wonderful plan to me," Charlie agreed.

She was utterly determined to stop letting work get in the way of her personal life. It was a well known fact that Charlie loved her job. It had been her life for a long, long time. The only thing more important to her than work was Ruby. And now Ruby's placed was matched by Joey. Sometimes she thought she loved Joey so much she'd die without her. And while her distraction had been entirely valid, she'd had a lot on her plate, she didn't want it to become a way of life. She didn't know exactly what Joey had been going through but she suspected that she'd been feeling a little insecure. Charlie never ever wanted Joey to feel like that. All she wanted was to make her happy, make her feel wanted and adored.

***

The following morning, Charlie stood underneath the warm spray of the shower. Closing her eyes, she let the pressure massage her shoulders. Her body was tired from how busy she and Joey had been the day before and she reluctantly realised that they may have to take it a little easier today. She opened her eyes when she heard the shower curtain move. Joey smiled at her sleepily.

"Care for some company?" she asked.

Charlie held out her hand to welcome her in. Maybe they didn't have to take things that easy. This was their weekend of reunion after all.

***

Wrapped in towels, Joey guided Charlie back to bed. She kissed each droplet of water on her partner's skin and began to remove her towel. Letting her mouth descend on Charlie's breasts, she felt her writhe beneath her. Charlie threw herself into the passion of the moment, savouring every sensation of Joey's touch. She reached out to tug on Joey's towel, wanting there to be no barrier between them.

***

The following afternoon, Charlie and Joey reluctantly left the hotel. They hadn't been outside since Friday evening and now it was Sunday but the time had passed far too quickly. They weren't ready to leave yet, although they knew they would be taking some wonderful memories with them. Joey had been very close to telling Charlie her fears about Angelo the night before. She wanted to be honest and not keep secrets. Perhaps if Charlie knew, she could put her mind at rest. But then, Charlie had really put her mind at rest without knowing. She'd been so perfect all weekend, so present and loving. Joey hadn't, in the end, wanted to ruin the moment. She hadn't wanted to break the spell they were under. And for now at least, Angelo was gone from their minds and their lives. At least until they got back home and back into their regular lives, it was just them and nobody else.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked as they climbed into the car.

Joey nodded and smiled.

"Just sad that we're leaving so soon," she said. "I was having a lovely time."

Charlie leant across the seat and kissed Joey.

"So was I. And it's not going to end now, okay? I'm going to be really firm about my working hours and not get so involved in work and stuff. You and Ruby are the two most important things in my world and I'm putting you both first for now and evermore."

Joey smiled and kissed Charlie again. She thought it was sweet that Charlie looked out for her sister so much, that she meant so much to her. If Joey couldn't have that with her brother, who she hadn't spoken to since the time she'd fought with him on the beach, then she was glad to be welcomed as part of the Buckton family. Charlie and Ruby had such a strong bond but Joey never ever felt excluded from it. She and Ruby had particularly been spending a lot of time together lately with Charlie being so busy. It was nice to hang out with Charlie's little sister and she was making friends with her friends too, especially Nicole who was very funny and kind.

"Ready to head back?" Charlie asked, feeling far from ready herself.

"Yeah," Joey said, pouting a little.

They kissed one more time before fastening their seatbelts. Charlie started the car.

***

Arriving back on the beach front, Charlie furrowed her brow when she spotted Martha and Hugo running across the street looking completely flustered. She pulled over and waved her hand out of the window.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Martha and Hugo exchanged glances.

"We think Tony's done something really stupid," Martha said.

***

Angelo didn't defend himself as Tony stood over him, kicking him hard in the stomach and face. He instinctively protected his body by curling up but that was the most he could offer. The pain in Tony's face was too much as he slammed into Angelo again and again, hating him for killing his son. With each blow, Angelo's body shifted backwards.

***

Charlie and Joey raced to the area Angelo had mentioned he and Tony would be fishing at. Hugo and Martha were in the car right behind her. They had hurriedly explained that Rachel had gone into premature labour and Tony was nowhere to be found. Martha had remembered, while they were trying to get in touch with him, that Tony's apparent friendship with Angelo seemed to be off somehow. Some of the things he had been saying just didn't seem right in retrospect. Recalling that the boys had a fishing trip planned, Charlie's instantly stepped into cop mode and now the small entourage were charging towards the place they hoped Angelo and Tony would be.

***

Angelo cried out as he felt the ground give way to air. He tumbled over the side of the cliff, holding on to the edge with all his might. Tony appeared above him. Angelo waited for Jack's father to prise his hands off the rock and let him die but instead he recognised shock and concern on his face. Tony hadn't meant it to go that far. He'd turned it over in his mind but once they'd reached the right spot, he'd decided that all he wanted to do was hurt him. He didn't want Angelo's family to feel the same pain that he experienced every day. Murdering him, although he was sure that's what he deserved, was going too far. He just wanted to hurt him. Badly. The two men looked at each other. Tony extended his hand, begging Angelo to take hold of it. Awkwardly, Angelo managed to reach for him. Tony tried to pull him up.

***

Charlie left the engine running as soon as she arrived and jumped out of the car. She'd already spotted Tony in the distance and he was disturbingly alone. Joey, Hugo and Martha were right behind her.

"Tony!" Charlie yelled.

Still clinging onto Angelo's sweaty hand, Tony turned to see four people running up to him.

"I'm trying to pull him up," he said desperately.

Charlie skidded onto her knees. Joey's heart lurched into her throat for a moment as she worried she might not stop.

"Angelo," she said. "You need to help Tony. You need to try and pull yourself up."

Angelo looked between them. He saw Tony's pain mingled with his fright. He saw Charlie's terror. But he knew he would never be forgiven by Tony and nor should he be. And he knew Charlie would never be with him again like she once was. Tony cried out as he felt Angelo's hand go slack.