I'm quite far ahead on this one but I have just written the conclusion to Aden's story and I really hope you like it. It won't go quite the same way as it did in the show, although it is similar. Anyway, I hope you like the chapter. I am currently gearing up to the return of Hugo – and to Joey opening her restaurant. Also, thank you to everyone for the well wishes and those who have messaged me, I will reply as soon as I can. I am feeling a bit better but I still can't breathe properly so I am not quite back in action yet. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty

Ruby and Xavier were both subdued as they ate dinner with Charlie and Joey. The older couple exchanged anxious glances as they tried to figure out what was wrong. Finally, Joey spoke up.

"Is there anything you two need to talk about?" she asked.

"No," they both said quickly.

Joey looked unconvinced. Charlie tried to stop her mind spiralling too far out of control. What if they were having problems at school? What if they'd broken the law? What if, God forbid, Ruby was pregnant? She shook her head and focussed on the delicious meal Joey had cooked for them all. Joey squeezed her hand under the table, knowing that she was panicking.


With VJ on a sleepover with some school friends, Leah had cooked at home and invited Elijah round. Things still felt a little awkward but Leah was hopeful that they would get past it and learn to be together in a relationship without any ghosts. She'd cried herself to sleep thinking about Vinnie but she was happy to know that he had gone peacefully, content with his life.

"This smells delicious," Elijah enthused as the pair of them sat down at the table together.

Leah smiled bashfully.

"Let's hope it tastes as good!" she said.


"We're going to go to my room and study," Ruby announced once she and a particularly quiet Xavier had done the dishes.

"You can study here," Charlie pointed out, not especially keen on two hormonal teenagers hiding themselves away in a bedroom.

"You're watching TV," Ruby pointed out. "It's distracting."

Still looking unconvinced, Charlie nodded and the pair of them disappeared.

"I wish I could believe they were actually studying," Charlie sighed.


Gina and John had spent the evening together at his place, which wasn't technically against the rules of Xavier moving back in. They'd had a nice dinner and then made out on the couch like a pair of horny teenagers. Gina felt better than she had in a long time. John made her feel good about herself and for a few seconds here and there, she could actually forget about Hugo and all he had done. He haunted her more than she cared to admit. And even though Xavier was a very different boy, she couldn't help but panic that he would turn out the same way.


"He'd better not be thinking of staying the night," Charlie grumbled.

Joey paused in the foot massage she was providing her girlfriend with.

"Are you going to relax any time soon?" she asked with a pout. "Because I'm seriously giving you my best work!"

Charlie snorted and wiggled her foot, requesting more attention.

"Sorry," she said. "I just worry about them getting into trouble. And it's so obvious that they're keeping some kind of secret."

"It is," Joey agreed grimly. "But we'll find out about it when they're ready. And no problem is insurmountable. We'll get through it."

Charlie sighed heavily. Joey paused again and offered a stern look. Grinning, Charlie snuggled back down on the sofa to enjoy the pleasant sensations her girlfriend was offering.


Miles sat outside in the cool night air. Across the small patio table, sat Rabbit, a happy figment of his imagination. Between them was a chessboard and as usual, Rabbit was winning.

"You're distracted," she said.

"I've had to book a counselling appointment," Miles admitted.

"To get rid of me?"

"I'd never get rid of you," he promised. "I love you."

"I love you too," she replied.


At ten o'clock, while Joey washed up their hot chocolate mugs, Charlie rapped on Ruby's bedroom door. She heard some shuffling but sooner rather than later, Ruby opened up and neither teenager looked like they had got dressed in a hurry. Charlie was relieved.

"We're turning in," she said. "So I think you'd better head on home, Xave."

Ruby began to protest but Xavier hauled himself off the bed, obedient.

"Can't he...?"

"No," Charlie said. "I'd really prefer it if you didn't have your boyfriend spending the night, okay? Especially not on a school night."

Ruby pouted.

"Come on," Charlie said. "Your Mum will be wondering where you are."

Xavier nodded and headed out to the front door. Ruby followed him. Charlie headed on into her bedroom.


Leah and Elijah had fallen asleep together in front of a DVD. When the soundtrack at the end of the film began to play, Leah jolted awake. Elijah started in fright and took a while to figure out where he was. Seeing Leah's beautiful face and tousled hair, he smiled.

"I guess I'd better head on home," he ventured.

"Or you could stay the night?" Leah suggested.


Charlie and Joey kissed passionately, tucked up underneath the covers of their new, queen sized bed. Joey trailed her lips down Charlie's jaw and collarbone. Charlie closed her eyes as she felt Joey's hands wander. Maybe she was a hypocrite not to want her daughter to spend the night with her boyfriend when she had no qualms of her own about making love to Joey at every opportunity. Joey slipped beneath the blankets. Charlie lost all coherent thought.


In her bedroom, Ruby got changed and sunk into bed. She had hoped that Charlie and Joey might permit Xavier to stay the night but she knew it had been unlikely. They hadn't slept together since their reunion but Ruby supposed that it was a route they might go down soon. But tonight hadn't been about that. Xavier had spent most of the evening driving himself crazy over what they had found at the hiding place. More than anything, she had wanted to comfort him and make him feel like the world wasn't such an awful and confusing place.


Xavier hadn't gone home. He knew he would get into trouble with his mother in the morning but he would deal with that when the time came. The worst that could happen would be that he'd be thrown out and that had already happened earlier in the month. Things were still pretty tense and awkward but they were working on it. Mostly, he was consumed with Hugo. Why had there been a photo of the pair of them at the hiding place? Who else would have had that picture? But Hugo was dead. He wouldn't be hiding out in a cave eating bread, would he? Could he? He'd been shot right in front of poor Martha's eyes. There couldn't be another explanation.


Joey tried to be quiet as she climaxed but she couldn't quite rein it in. Charlie giggled as she kissed her way up her girlfriend's body and to her lips. She snuggled up closer and kissed her again.

"That was amazing," Joey gasped.

Charlie grinned and stole yet another kiss.

"You're amazing!"

"Well, I don't like to toot my own horn but..." Charlie smirked.

They kissed again and again.


Having made love, Gina and John had fallen asleep in his bed. Dead to the world, Gina indulged in dreams, forgetting all about the son who should be missing her at home.


On the other side of the Bay, having not made love, Leah snuggled up to Elijah. Both of them wanted to take things slowly. It didn't seem to rush into something they weren't ready for, especially considering the current situation. But they were happy. And they were looking forward to a future together.


Charlie crashed out halfway through saying goodnight. It had been a gruelling few days and between Justin's case and whatever was going on with Ruby and Xavier, it didn't look to be letting up any time soon. But Charlie was confident that together, there was nothing she and Joey couldn't face.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Joey whispered, gazing at her through the dark. "I love you."


Next time... Charlie tells Ruby about Vinnie, Xavier lies to Gina about where he spent the night and, upon hearing the news about Vinnie, challenges Angelo about Hugo...