I have to go for a hospital appointment in London tomorrow so I won't be able to update so I thought I would do it today. And as it turns out to be the last chapter of this fic, it means you'll also get the first chapter of my new fic 'Hearts on Fire' as well. I shall post that up in a moment.

Chapter Ten

Ruby cleared her throat and, blushing, Charlie and Joey pulled apart, having got a little involved in their make out session.

"Hey, Ruby..." Charlie said uncertainly.

"Hey," the teenager replied.

She watched the way they clutched each other's hands.

"Look, I don't profess to understand what's going on between you but if you're really happy, if you're really in love then..."

She shrugged.

"Well, then I'm not about to step on that."

Charlie almost collapsed with relief. Joey stepped in to hold her.

"I heard what you guys were saying just now," Ruby said.

Charlie and Joey both looked startled. Ruby gestured to the open window.

"Maybe we can... maybe we can sit down and talk about it?"

"Well, we were going to go out for dinner," Charlie ventured. "Would you like to come with us?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude..."

"You wouldn't be!" Charlie said quickly.

She turned to Joey for confirmation.

"We'd love you to come," the deckhand said with a gentle smile.

"Okay, well... I'll just go and get changed," Ruby said.

Forty minutes later, Charlie and Joey were seated round a table in the corner of the Diner. All three were aware that they didn't want to be overheard. This whole thing was still so new and they were all just finding their way.

"So, when did this all happen?" Ruby asked, hoping she sounded interested and not aggressive.

"Well, from my perspective, we had had a connection from the start," Charlie ventured, glancing at Joey for confirmation.

Joey nodded. Encouraged, Charlie continued.

"I really didn't realise what was happening until a few days ago. It was actually you that pointed it out to me."

Ruby looked surprised and then recalled the conversation they'd had on the day that Charlie and Joey had meant to go on their picnic at the lighthouse.

"You were right about what you said but the thing you missed was that it wasn't a one sided thing," Charlie said. "I didn't realise anything was there at all but once I started thinking Joey might have feelings for me, it freaked me out because I immediately realised that I had feelings for her too."

She smiled, feeling more comfortable the more she talked about it.

"When Joey took me out on the boat the other day we..."

"Something happened then?" Ruby asked, her eyes wide.

"We had a moment," Charlie said with a little chuckle. "I think if I hadn't panicked and fled, we probably would have kissed but I just couldn't cope with the idea of having an attraction to another girl."

"And how does that work?" Ruby asked. "I'm not judging. I'm just asking. But... how do you suddenly find yourself attracted to a woman when you haven't been before? I mean, you haven't before, have you?"

Charlie shook her head.

"It's never happened before," she confirmed, reaching for Joey's hand. "And I don't know what it means about how I should identify or whatever but..."

She gazed lovingly at Joey for a moment.

"There's just something so amazing about Joey. I just... I've fallen completely and totally in love with her."

Joey grinned back, squeezing her hand. Ruby giggled. They both blushed and looked at her, reluctantly breaking their hands away.

"This is weird," the teenager said. "But I have to admit that it's kind of sweet. I've never seen you like this before, Charlie."

"I've never felt like this before," Charlie admitted.

"So... are you like... girlfriends now?"

Charlie again looked to Joey for confirmation. Joey nodded and smiled, hoping that Charlie would agree.

"Yeah," the police officer said. "We are."

"And are you going to tell people or...?"

"Yes," Charlie said, taking a breath. "I mean, Leah already knows and after what happened this morning, we've got to sit down and explain things to VJ. And when it feels appropriate, we'll go and talk to Dad and Morag. And it's Summer Bay so it's pretty inevitable that people will figure it out and probably judge us. And gossip. It's not going to be easy."

Ruby nodded.

"But if you can support us..."

"I can," Ruby promised. "I will. It's just... wow."

Charlie nodded and then smiled.

"It's very wow," she said.

"And Joey," Ruby said. "You feel as strongly for Charlie as she does for you?"

"I'm desperately in love with your sister," Joey said honestly.

Charlie blushed.

"I think she's the most amazing woman on earth and as long as I have your blessing, I'd really like to be with her and to make her happy. And I know your head's spinning but ours are too. Charlie never expected to want to be with a woman and me... well, I never thought I could ever be with anyone again. And if I was able, I certainly didn't think I stood a chance with someone as incredible as Charlie. It's like a dream come true."

Charlie and Joey beamed at each other, losing themselves in the moment. Ruby chuckled.

"Well, like I said, if you're happy, I'm happy," Ruby said. "And you guys definitely seem ecstatic. I hope... I hope this has a happy ending."

"I'm feeling confident for the first time in my life," Charlie admitted. "I've never loved anyone before and I don't think anyone has ever loved me."

She smiled and turned back to Joey, holding her hand again.

"You make me feel complete, Joey," she said. "Thank you for having so much patience with me and I hope that I can make you happy. I've fallen so hard and so quickly. It's all a little bit scary but I hope that I can be the person you think I am. I hope I can make you happy. I never want to let you go."

Without thinking, and in full view of everyone, Charlie leant across the table and kissed her.

I hope you've enjoyed this story and it's sappy, happy ending! I can promise you in this particular universe there will be no cheatage and Charlie and Joey will live happily ever after. Love, IJKS xxx