Happy New Year and thank you all for your reviews. I really appreciate them. I know I'm not portraying Ruby too well here but I for one thought she behaved horribly during most of this storyline on screen so... yeah, I guess it's coming across! But I hope you enjoy the aftermath of her and Geoff's departure! IJKS xxx

***

Chapter Seventy-Two

Joey gently guided Charlie to her feet, holding onto her in order to keep her stable. Ignoring the way everyone continued to watch them, they made their way out of the Diner and into the fresh air. Charlie was still shaking and struggling with breath and tears. Joey convinced her to take a deep lungful of air.

"Let's go and sit on the beach," Joey suggested.

Charlie nodded and let Joey help her put on foot in front of the other under the ground gave way to softness and they sat down, looking out to sea.

***

Xavier forced himself out of the house. Ruby filled his mind and he couldn't do anything more than frown and sigh. Where had she gone? Was she safe? Why wouldn't she answer his calls? He knew he had done a lot worse in the past than stick up for Charlie. He'd gone off with his ex-girlfriend, back when they were first getting together, and he had messed her around. But they had come so far from those days. They loved each other. They had slept together twice. And she had run straight to him in her time of need. Part of him was cursing himself for letting her down and part of him felt justified. He had purely been trying to help. Charlie and Ruby loved each other. He knew his girlfriend would be miserable without her sister, her mother, or whoever she was, in her life. And all Xavier wanted was for Ruby to be happy.

***

"Joey, what am I going to do without her?" Charlie asked, staring ahead at the water.

Joey had one arm around Charlie's shoulders and she was using her other hand to hold onto Charlie's. Charlie leant into her slightly, feeling safe only from the contact with Joey's body.

"This isn't forever," Joey said certainly. "You and Ruby are one and the same. She's freaking out. She's found out that everything she thought she knew wasn't true. But she'll calm down. She'll take some time and space to really think about it and she'll come back to build bridges."

"When?"

"That, I don't know. I wish I did but..."

"She won't be safe in the city all by herself."

"She's a survivor," Joey replied. "She'll be okay and she'll get in touch when she's ready."

Tears continued to fall from Charlie's eyes, although Joey was comforting enough.

***

Annie arrived home feeling miserable and guilty. She didn't think she would erase Charlie's brokenness for a long time. The teenager may have judged her and her relationship with Joey but she didn't wish anything bad for them. And she was worried about Ruby. Closing the door, she called her brother's name but there was no answer. Wandering further into the room she saw a letter on the table.

Dear Irene and Annie,

I've decided to go to the city with Ruby. I'm so sorry to let you down and run out on you again but I just need some space and time to think. I love you both so much but everything feels so hard right now. I will come home when I'm ready and I will get in touch to let you know we're safe. I'm sorry.

Love,

Geoff

Annie sat down heavily in the chair and read the note over and over again.

***

"I guess I might have reacted similarly," Charlie conceded. "I mean, look at how I freaked when I realised I was in love with you. I was ready to dive off the boat that first time we kissed."

Joey chuckled at the memory. At the time, she had been plagued with self hatred at the thought of having taken advantage of the woman who had saved her. But then Charlie had calmed down enough to reassure her and things had developed from there.

"I just need to give her time, right?" Charlie asked, genuinely wanting an answer.

"I think so."

"And tell her that I love her every chance I get?"

"That'd be good."

Charlie nodded and took a deep breath. She turned to Joey and kissed her suddenly, taking her by surprise.

***

Irene entered the Diner to grab a quick coffee before she headed home with her shopping bags. It had been nice to treat herself to a little day out. With everything that had been going on – Lou's death, Belle's death, Geoff's situation with Claudia – she felt like she needed something, anything to feel a little happier again.

"You missed a day and a half!" Colleen declared by way of greeting.

"What's going on?" Irene asked.

"Well, poor Senior Constable Buckton has been searching round the whole town all day looking for young Ruby. And then she came in here and spoke to your Annie who told her that Ruby has left town! She caught a bus into the city all by herself. She literally broke down, right in front of us. She sat on the floor in tears until that Joey girl came to rescue her. She took her out of here about an hour ago."

"Where's Annie now?" Irene asked.

"She crept out of here pretty quick," Colleen said.

Irene cancelled her coffee and hurried home.

***

Charlie kissed Joey passionately and guided her onto her back. Joey kissed her back and wrapped her arms around Charlie's shoulders, breathing a little too quickly. Charlie reined kissed down Joey's neck and began to tug at her clothes.

"Wait..." Joey protested.

Charlie refused until Joey wriggled free and forced Charlie up to look at her. As she'd suspected, Charlie wasn't any calmer and tears stained her cheeks.

"Charlie..." Joey said softly.

"Please?"

"We're on the beach in the middle of the day," Joey pointed out.

"But I need..."

"You need to let me take you home," Joey said.

Charlie cried harder.

"Even you don't want me," she said, sounding dejected.

Joey hugged her.

"Of course I want you," she said. "I always want you. I love you. Let's go home."

***

Xavier remained in the Diner, staring at the counter. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. Ruby had run away to the city. Immediately it felt like his fault. He pulled out his mobile and called her, needing to make sure she was okay.

***

Geoff and Ruby arrived at their destination. On the way, they had discussed where they would stay and thought bed and breakfasts were the best option. Just as they were hauling their belongings out of the car, Ruby's phone rang. She sighed, assuming it would be Charlie. She hadn't called since before Ruby had left Summer Bay. She frowned when she saw Xavier's name flash up. She wasn't ready to speak to him yet.

***

"You have got a lot of explaining to do, girlie," Irene barked as soon as she arrived home.

She stopped when she saw Annie looking desolate at the table.

"Feeling guilty for letting poor Charlie lose Ruby like that?" she asked, unsympathetically.

"Geoff's gone," Annie told her.

"What?"

Irene moved further into the room and sat down beside the teenager she saw as her own daughter. Annie handed her the note Geoff had left behind and Irene read it quickly.

"So, they've both just walked out on their lives?" Irene asked.

"Looks like it," Annie replied.

***

When Charlie and Joey finally arrived home, Joey set to running a bath. They had been tearing around town all day and both were physically and emotionally exhausted. While Joey fussed with bubbles and temperature, Charlie called Watson to let her know there was no point patrolling for Ruby anymore.

"It's ready," Joey said, appearing back in the room.

Charlie stood and followed her. Stripping quickly, they climbed into the tub together, submerging themselves in the warm water. Charlie leant her back against Joey's front and sighed heavily. Joey snaked her arm around Charlie's body, resting her hands on her tummy.

"I love you, Joey," Charlie said softly, closing her eyes against the candlelight.

"I love you too, Charlie," Joey replied. "So much."

***

Ruby and Geoff looked down at the double bed awkwardly. It had been the cheapest option to share a room but it meant that they had to share a bed. It felt a little wrong to Ruby to share a bed with a boy who wasn't her boyfriend, although she knew nothing would happen. It was practical and innocent, although she didn't think Xavier would agree. Still, it was what they had to do to survive and there was no boy on earth she felt safer with than Geoff.