Chapter One Hundred and Ninety One

It was Thursday morning, the day before the school formal that, like last year, Ruby was desperate but not allowed to go to. Leah had already dropped VJ off at school and then gone on to work but Ruby happily had a free first period so she had decided to 'study' at home. Charlie and Joey both knew full well that she was just going to take longer to get ready.

"Hey, um, Charlie?" Joey ventured a little uncertainly.

"Yeah?" Charlie asked, putting her cereal spoon down and offering her girlfriend her full attention.

The tone in her voice made her curious.

"What are you doing for Christmas?"

"Um..."

The cop hadn't realised that December 25th was creeping so close so quickly.

"I don't know," she said. "I guess we'll go to Dad and Morag's or something. I hadn't really thought about it."

She continued eating. Joey nodded, her question not quite having been answered. She finished her coffee and then stood up, announcing she was going for a shower. She kissed Charlie's forehead and left.

"You are such an idiot, Charlie," Ruby informed her mother, sitting down opposite her.

"Why?" Charlie asked, startled. "What did I do?"

"She was asking you if she was spending Christmas with us," Ruby explained, keeping her words slow, as if Charlie were stupid.

"Why?" Charlie asked, her confusion growing. "Of course she's spending Christmas with us. Isn't she?"

"Charlie, I love you," Ruby said, taking her hand. "But sometimes you're dumb."

Charlie pouted.

"You might assume that it's not even a question but spending Christmas with the Bucktons' is a new experience for her," the younger girl explained. "She's used to what I gather were miserable Christmases with her brother. So she's probably feeling a bit unsure about the lay of the land."

"Oh!" Charlie said.

She stood up and drained her coffee.

"I'll go fix it."

Ruby giggled as her mother hurried off.


Joey was singing in the shower as she massaged shampoo into her hair, trying to jostle herself out of her anxious mood. Christmas had been weighing on her mind for a couple of weeks. This time last year, she didn't even know who Charlie Buckton was. She was trapped in the closet and the only person she had in all the world was Brett. And he now hated her. In fact, last year, she'd been forced to sit across the dinner table with Robbo, which had been particularly hellish. Although making out with his sister behind his back had been pretty fun – if a little dangerous.

"Joey?"

The barmaid screamed when she heard a voice behind her but managed to calm down when she realised it was only Charlie.

"You nearly gave me a frickin' heart attack!" Joey scolded, pushing the glass door open.

"Sorry," Charlie apologised. "I just wanted to clear something up."

Joey waited expectantly and then shivered with the draft. Charlie promptly stripped off and got into the cubicle with her. She had to have a shower anyway so it may as well be now. Happily, Joey welcomed her into her arms underneath the spray. She kissed her.

"What's on your mind?" she asked.

Charlie held onto Joey's waist and smiled.

"It was rather rudely pointed out to me that your Christmas question was to clarify whether you were invited," she said.

Joey looked down a little shyly.

"Sorry I didn't get it," the cop continued. "I just assumed you knew you'd be invited. Christmas is for family and you're my family. You're one of the two most important people in my world. I couldn't bear not to spend Christmas with you."

Joey smiled, pulling her closer.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"I'm sorry I didn't make it clearer," Charlie apologised. "I just... assumed. I mean, that's assuming you want to spend Christmas with..."

Joey kissed her.

"Where else would I ever want to be?" she asked.


Charlie and Joey had both been a little late for work, having got a little carried away in the shower. Ruby had rolled her eyes at their guilty expressions but she was glad that Charlie had sufficiently reassured her girlfriend. The teenager had dragged herself to school and was very relieved that there was only one day left. And then she had several glorious summer weeks off, with Christmas somewhere in the middle. And this evening, on the promise that Irene was meant to be at work, Ruby and Geoff were planning on spending the evening together. She just hoped it would work out this time.


Joey was working behind the bar of the Surf Club when Nicole approached, looking glum.

"Which one of them has done something now?" Joey asked immediately.

Nicole looked startled.

"Well, either Aden's upset you or Liam has," Joey explained.

"Is my life that sad that it revolves around both of them?" Nicole asked in mock horror.

"And me," Joey smirked.

"And of course you," Nicole giggled. "Couldn't forget you, Jo."

Joey beamed at her and offered her a drink.

"Well, I'm eighteen now so I think I'll have a glass of white wine," Nicole decided.

"Just one," Joey warned with mock sternness. "No need to misbehave just because you're old enough!"

"Yeah, I seem to recall you've got a bit tipsy in your time," Nicole commented.

"Do as I say and not as I do!" Joey giggled, pouring Nicole's drink and accepted her money.

Then she leant on the bar, offering her friend her full attention.

"So, what's up?" she asked. "If it's Aden then I'm sure I could beat him up for you."

Nicole laughed and then sighed, explaining that Liam had told her that he loved her but that she couldn't say it back. And now, as expected, things were weird between them.

"Oh," Joey said. "That's not good."

"Do you think I should have lied?"

"No!" Joey said. "No, no, no. You shouldn't lie about something like that."

"When did you and Charlie know you loved each other?" Nicole asked. "Because I've never said it to anyone before. And I've never felt it before either. Including now."

"Well, Charlie and I knew pretty quickly," Joey admitted. "But then, we didn't really get together in a conventional way. We were best friends first and blurred the lines a little bit. But we were in a unique position. I don't think I could have dated Charlie if I wasn't already in love with her because of what I'd been through with Robbo. And she couldn't have been with me if she didn't already love me because her head was spinning so much over being attracted to a woman."

Nicole nodded thoughtfully.

"So for you guys, it really was the real deal, hey?" she asked.

"Yep," Joey said.

"How am I meant to know if it's the real deal with Liam?"

"I think the point will come where you know it's real is or it isn't," Joey ventured. "Either everything will click into place and you'll realise you love him and want to spend your life with him. Or you'll realise that it won't ever happen."

"When will that be?"

Joey smiled gently and patted her hand.

"I wish I could tell you," she said. "But life kind of doesn't work that way."

Nicole sighed dramatically and buried her head in her hands.


Charlie was sitting in a car outside Martha's farm with Angelo. She wasn't entirely sure how she'd managed to get partnered up with him on their rota but she was itching to finish her shift and get over to the Surf Club to hang out with Joey until she too could finish work for the day.

"I've never known you to clock watch like this before," Angelo commented.

"I'm bored," Charlie said. "And I still don't think that sitting in the woods watching Hugo, Martha and little Bambang go about their day is the most productive use of our time."

"What can I say? I'm clutching at straws. And I thought you'd care more about the case than you do."

"I do care!" Charlie snapped. "And I've worked damn hard on it, thank you."

He held up his hands in mock defence.

"All I'm saying is that Joey seems to take over your life."

"It's called being in a relationship!"

"You don't have to be co-dependent to be in a relationship, Charlie."

"We're not!" Charlie snapped. "I just enjoy spending time with her."

She smiled, thinking about Christmas. Since their conversation that morning, it had got Charlie thinking about how special she could make it for her. She already had some plans in motion and she hoped 25th December 2009 would be a day to remember.

"I just mean that you seem to be a different person than you were."

"I'm a better person, I hope," Charlie replied.

"Well, if she's trying to make you change..."

"She's not," Charlie said quickly.

"Okay, so you think she's changed you into a better person and yet apparently she accepts you for who you are?" Angelo challenged.

"She does accept me for who I am," Charlie said, trying not to get too irritated. "But I want to be the best I can be for her. I want to make her happy. There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve yourself. Isn't everyone always seeking that?"

"I guess," Angelo said sourly. "But I'd suggest that if someone's constantly trying to make themselves perfect for their girlfriend that it's bordering on an abusive relationship."

Offended, Charlie slapped him hard on the arm and told him to shut up.

"An abusive relationship requires a bully," she said coldly. "I'm not one and Joey could never be one. We're happy together. I'm happier than I even knew it was possible to be. So why don't you keep your stupid, incorrect opinions to yourself?"


Nicole and Aden were merrily chatting away with Joey at the bar when Charlie finally arrived, still in a bad mood. She stole a kiss from Joey and ordered a beer, declaring that they would be walking or taxiing home tonight.

"That bad?" Joey asked worriedly.

"Angelo's an arsehole," Charlie stated.

"Preaching to the choir, honey," Joey said, presenting her with her drink.

Aden nodded his firm agreement. He had certainly not been a fan, even before Angelo had shot Jack and tried to cover it up. Nicole remained neutral. She didn't particularly feel anything about him either way, although she had always secretly thought he was attractive.

"So, any exciting news?" Charlie asked, immediately more cheerful now that she was in better company.

"We're debating the longevity of a relationship if one person is in love and the other person isn't," Nicole explained.

Charlie pulled a face.

"It doesn't bode well," she admitted.

"Speaking from experience?" Aden asked with a smirk at Joey who slapped him playfully on the hand.

"Joey is the only person I've ever been in love with," Charlie informed them. "I don't do love very easily. But I've liked people more than they've liked me..."

She glanced at Nicole.

"Like your Dad," she said. "And I've had people like me more than I've liked them. Either way it's gone wrong, which hurt at the time but it just led me to falling in love with my soul mate, who I hope I can safely assume feels the same about me as I do about her."

She grinned and leaned over the bar for another kiss. A wolf whistle interrupted them. Turning round, a miserable looking Miles pulled up a chair.

"What's wrong?" Nicole asked. "Didn't your first day back at work go well?"

"I had a tantrum and trashed a classroom," he replied flatly.

"Woah!" Aden said. "Was it empty at least?"

"Oh yeah, yeah, it was empty," Miles told him. "Except for an old letter from Kirsty in the bottom of my drawer."

Nicole moved round and hugged him.

"Gina's told me I have to take leave for stress," he said. "I guess it's only one day but..."

He sighed heavily. The dutiful barmaid put a beer in front of him and told him it was on her.

"Hey, Miles?" Nicole said.

He looked immediately sceptical.

"Would you like to take me to the formal?" she asked.

"Like a lift?" he queried.

"No, like my date! I mean, obviously not a traditional date but... What do you think?"

"I don't really like the idea of getting on the wrong side of Liam," Miles admitted.

"The bastard's not going with her," Aden said sharply.

"What?"

"He doesn't want to come and I really, really want to go," Nicole explained. "And I couldn't possibly attend without someone I adore for company."

Despite himself, Miles smiled.

"I'd love to be your date, Nicole," he said.


Ruby and Geoff had only got as far as a heavy make out session before Irene came home early from work with a headache. Once again, their plans had been thwarted and Geoff was starting to think that it was a sign that they shouldn't be doing this yet.

"Oh, don't start talking like that," Ruby said. "It'll happen. I mean, come on – we've even got Charlie's blessing! I never thought that would happen."

Geoff chuckled.

"I think she's given up on trying to control you!" he said.

"Hey!" Ruby protested. "I'm a good girl! For the most part."

"Yeah, right!" he said affectionately. "Why don't I walk you home?"


Charlie and Joey arrived back at the same time as Ruby and Geoff.

"Did you guys have a nice evening?" Charlie asked, putting the kettle on and slightly dreading confirmation that they might have done the deed.

"Yeah, it was nice," Ruby said, sitting down at the table. "Irene came home early with a headache though."

Geoff sat a little awkwardly beside her. Even though she was perfectly nice to him, he still felt a little shy of Charlie, although he was long past that with Joey, his former colleague.

"Oh, I hope she's okay," Charlie said, presenting them all with drinks and taking a seat beside her girlfriend.

"It's probably stress," Geoff said. "She's trying to support Donna at the moment and it can't be easy for her."

"Yeah," Charlie said sadly. "We're still working on finding Lou's killer but no new evidence has come up so far. I think it's a waiting game."

"We all know you're doing your best, Charlie," Ruby assured her warmly.

Charlie beamed at her and held Joey's hand under the table. Moments like that with her daughter were extremely precious.


Next time... Nicole and Aden go to the forma while Charlie, Joey, Watson and Monica go clubbing...