Just to let you know in advance that I won't be updating from Saturday to Monday. I am hoping to update from Tuesday onwards but I will be on holiday and I'm not sure how much internet I will have! But if I can get online, I will update. But Saturday to Monday will be impossible as I have a friend making an impromptu visit and with all the effort she's making, I really ought to give her some attention! For now, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Four

"Well, would you mind if we had our Christmas here then?" Charlie asked hopefully.

"Sure," Leah said agreeably. "I'm going to be away until New Year's Eve and well, VJ is going to be off for longer than that because I'm dropping him off at Stella's on the way home."

She smiled brightly.

"So, yep, you can have the place to yourselves."

"Thanks," Charlie said. "I quite like the idea of playing hostess with the mostess. Although, Joey will be the one cooking!"

"Well, she needs the practice for when she opens her restaurant, doesn't she?"

Charlie giggled. She definitely had high hopes for her girlfriend's future and she was planning on being as supportive as possible. If Joey couldn't follow her first ambition of working on the high seas then Charlie wanted to help her make her second dream be the best that it could be.


Joey was cheerfully serving customers at the Surf Club when her brother walked through the door. Joey froze as he approached her, anxiously gripping the bar top.

"Hi, Joey," he said.

Joey licked her lips, her mouth becoming dry. The last time she'd seen Brett was at the hospital back in July when he had run Charlie over in his car. Joey had encouraged her girlfriend to press charges but she had refused, not wanting to rock the boat and feeling certain that it had just been an accident.

"Hi," she said, her throat still dry.

"How are you doing?"

"Pretty good," Joey replied. "How are you?"

He nodded.

"I'm okay," he said. "I miss you."

Joey chewed her lip. She had missed him too, or at least what he had once been to her, before Robbo and before she had had the courage to come out. Before Charlie.

"I miss you too," she admitted. "But we wouldn't have to miss each other if you'd accept me for who I am."

Brett nodded again, keeping his head down. His grip on the bar tightened.

"That's what I wanted to talk about," he said. "I um... well, obviously Christmas is coming up and..."

He sighed.

"Joey, you're the only family I've got," he said. "I got this whole year wrong. I should never have questioned what you said Robbo did to you. That was awful of me. And... and I should have tried harder to accept your sexuality and... and that you and... and Charlie are in love."

She was impressed that he could actually say her girlfriend's name.

"And if it's not too late then I'd really like to make up for it now," he said. "I don't want to lose you."

Joey continued to stare at him, almost disbelieving.

"What do you think?" he asked. "Is there a way forward?"


At the end of her shift, which had involved spending more time outside the farm with Angelo than she had liked. But now, she was glad that she had only one day left before she could disappear for Christmas with her family. Approaching Joey in the Surf Club, she greeted her with a kiss, eagerly telling her that they didn't have to go to the city for Christmas as Leah had said they could host at the house.

"That's great!" Joey enthused. "Wait – I'm cooking, aren't I?"

"Well, I'd help but I'd probably only get in the way," Charlie grinned.

Joey smiled back and stole an extra kiss. Then she frowned.

"What's up?"

Joey nodded behind her. Brett had walked in and was hovering anxiously.

"He came in earlier," Joey explained. "Wants to work things out. Be siblings again."

"And you're not happy about that because...?"

"It's too late," Joey said. "I can't."

Charlie turned as Brett hesitantly approached.

"Hi," he said directly to the police officer.

"Hi," Charlie replied, surprised that he'd even acknowledged her.

He shocked her further by extended his hand. Cautiously, she shook it.

"I wanted to apologise," Brett ventured. "You know, for everything?"

Charlie nodded, accepting his apology. She glanced at Joey who still looked desperately uncertain.

"Joey, look, I know you're not sure about me and everything but I just wanted to leave you with my new mobile number," he said, pushing a slip of paper across the bar. "And... and I'd like to invite you out to dinner. Both of you. If you want. Just... just let me know. If you do."

He nodded quickly and hurried out of the bar again. Joey toyed with the paper.

"I think it might be a good idea," Charlie said honestly.

Joey looked up sharply.

"He tried to split us up, Charlie," she said.

"Yes, he did," the Senior Constable agreed. "But he also failed. And he's apparently sorry."

"Why are you standing up for him?" Joey wondered. "He ran you over. If he hadn't done that then all of the shit with Ruby might never have happened. He..."

"He's sorry," Charlie pointed out, placing her hand gently on Joey's. "Maybe you should give him the benefit of the doubt?"

Joey continued to look unsure.

"Sweetheart, Brett's family to you," Charlie said. "I mean, he's not your only family because you've got me and Rubes and Dad and Morag but he's still family. He's your last connection with your parents, which is something I could never give you, as much as I'd like to."

Joey smiled sadly.

"You've got nothing to lose," Charlie continued. "If he's fake then you can just go back to how you've been without him and if he isn't... well, you've got your brother back."

Joey nodded, feeling encouraged.

"Maybe I'll call him," she said, twirling the paper around in her hand.

"You could always invite him for Christmas," Charlie said.

Joey looked alarmed.

"I don't know if we're ready to..."

"It'll make him show his true colours once and for all," Charlie pointed out.

"That's a good point," Joey agreed.

She smiled. Nodding decisively, she decided to call him when she finished her shift.


The following morning, Joey and Charlie were both feeling extremely chipper. Charlie was more excited about hosting Christmas than she realised and that today was her last day at work for a little while was an added bonus. Joey had also called Brett and he had gladly accepted the invitation to Christmas dinner.

Joey's mood was only dampened when Nicole sloped into the Surf Club looking miserable.

"Aden told you about Christmas, didn't he?" Joey concluded anxiously.

Her best friend had been in earlier, struggling with misery over the Christmas period. Not so long ago, he had been looking forward to his first December 25th married to Belle but she was already gone and his heart was broken. Nicole had invited him to spend the day with herself, Miles, Alf and Romeo but he had turned to Joey in panic over how to decline. All too aware of his feelings for Nicole, it felt wrong to even contemplate spending Christmas with her and, inevitably, Liam as well. So Joey had insisted that he come to her and Charlie for the day.

"Sorry," Joey said.

"Why didn't he want to come to us?" Nicole asked. "We spent Christmas together last year. I thought he... cared."

"He does," Joey assured her. "But I guess everything feels different this year."

"Because of Belle," Nicole said sadly.

"He spent last year with her, Irene, Geoff, Annie, you and Roman, right?" Joey said.

Nicole nodded.

"So he probably just wants to do something completely different this time around," Joey explained. "It's going to be hard on him."

Nicole nodded again, quietly pointing out that it would be hard for her too. Joey reached out to gently touch her hand, trying to offer some kind of consolation.

"Will you get to see your Dad at all?" she asked.

"Miles is taking me up there for a visit tomorrow," Nicole said. "But it just gets harder every time I see him. He's trying to keep it all together but..."

She sighed. Joey squeezed her hand.

"I'm sure it'll mean the world to him to see you," she said.


"Fifteen minutes to go!" Charlie said cheerfully.

"You're so lucky not to have to work on Christmas Day!" Watson said, poking her tongue out at her friend, although she didn't really mind.

She wasn't inclined to spend the day with her mother and their endless number of relatives and things were too new with Monica to consider spending the day with her. Working through the shift sounded like the best alternative.

"Charlie?" said an urgent voice.

Charlie turned to see Irene and Donna burst through the doors of the police station looking anxious. Suddenly Charlie didn't think she'd be leaving work within a quarter of an hour.


Next time... Charlie and Angelo struggle to work together and Tony and John go into business together...