The last chapter for you. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Twenty Nine

"I just feel so… I don't know… overwhelmed, I guess," Willow admitted.

Jasmine paused.

"You're not having second thoughts?" she checked.

The two friends were in the Diner, having a coffee before they both started work.

"Oh, no, of course not," Willow said. "Honestly, I've never been more sure of anything in my life. And it's so weird, you know. Alex arrived in my life like a lightening bolt. I've never so much as looked at a woman in that way and now it feels like we've always been together, like we were always meant to be together."

She sipped her drink.

"And it's not like I never dated before," she said. "I mean, Dean and I were together on and off for ages. And there have been other guys. But with Alex it's just so perfect. We just… fit."

Jasmine smiled, amused at her rambling.

"So… what's so overwhelming?" she asked when she had finally finished telling her how amazing Alex was – not for the first time.

"Just… she chose me, Jas," Willow said. "Jamie has packed her bags and left town because Alex chose me. They were together for ten years. They had a house together. They had a whole future planned out. The whole reason Alex came here was because she's spent two years running away from her broken heart. But when it came down to it, she chose me."

"Of course she chose you," Jasmine said. "Are you insane? Have you seen the way that woman looks at you?"

Willow looked a little bewildered.

"You two are absolutely besotted with each other, Will," Jasmine said. "Like, beyond cute. It's adorable. I'm completely jealous."

Willow grinned.

"Well, don't think I haven't noticed you noticing a certain new friend of ours," she teased.

Jasmine blushed and sipped her drink.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she denied.

"Aww, come on," Willow coaxed. "What's happening with you guys? Anything juicy?"

Jasmine laughed and shook her head.

"Nothing juicy," she said, glancing carefully over at the counter where Aden was serving customers. "We're just… enjoying spending time together."

She glanced over at him again. He caught her eye and smiled. She blushed and smiled back. Willow noticed and couldn't resist teasing her friend.


Charlie arrived early at the gym, ready for her session with Willow. She had been working hard to build up her upper body strength. Her mission was to become as strong as she could and as independent as she could. There was no way she was going to let any kind of disability get in the way of her life.

In the strangest way, she had ended up with everything she had ever wanted. She was deeply in love with the love of her life. She and Ruby were closer than ever. Ruby even called her Mum now. They had a happy house and she was well on her way to passing her Detective exam. She had actual time for her friends and a social life. And she'd made a new, wonderful friend in Alex. She knew they would be friends for life.

She just wished it hadn't taken so many mistakes and getting shot to have forced her to turn her life around. But it had happened. And she had turned things around. The only way was forward.

She glanced at her watch, hoping Willow would arrive soon. She always felt nervous being in the gym on her own in case Brax arrived. They weren't enemies exactly but they definitely weren't friends. He seemed to have moved on in his new relationship with Ricky, who genuinely seemed to be a good person. Charlie wanted them to be happy.

She smiled when she saw Dean walk through the door.

"Hey, Charlie," he said. "Have you seen Will?"

"Waiting for her," she said.

"Late as ever," he remarked. "She's in dreamland at the moment!"

Charlie laughed. She had noticed.

"Who's in dreamland?" Willow asked, walking through the door.

"You!" Charlie and Dean informed her.

Willow pretended to be affronted but she knew it was true.

"What do you want, Dean?" she asked, her tone equally brusque and friendly, the only way old friends could talk to each other. "I have a VIP client waiting for me."

She grinned at Charlie.

"I just wanted to ask you to lunch," he said. "But if I'm not important enough…"

"No, no, lunch is good," Willow said. "See you later!"

She waved him off.

"Now," she said, turning to Charlie. "How hard can I work you today?"


Alex had been working all night and it had been a very busy shift. She was absolutely exhausted. All she wanted was her bed. But it was her last shift before she had several days off in order to move into her new place. With Willow.

She pulled up into the Surf Club car park. Climbing out of the car, she headed into the gym and approached Willow at the desk.

"What are you doing here?" Willow scolded. "You're supposed to go home to bed after your shift!"

Alex smiled guiltily.

"I couldn't go home without stopping by to see you first," she said, stealing a kiss.

"You're too cute," Willow told her, stealing another.

"How did Charlie's session go?" Alex asked. "I just saw her driving away in her cool new car."

Charlie had sold her car and bought a new one which meant that she could operate it with her hands. It was another step towards complete independence.

"Yeah, she's doing so well," Willow said. "She's getting so strong. I'm so proud of her, Alex."

The Doctor smiled. She was proud of her too. She had come a long way from the patient that had been rushed into her ED all those months ago.


At lunch time, Joey stopped by the Diner to pick up some takeaway for herself and Charlie to bring home.

"So uh… have you seen Jasmine today?" she teased Aden while she waited.

"She might have been in this morning having coffee with Willow," he said.

"When are you going to actually ask her out?" Joey asked. "I mean, am I going to have to do it for you? Because I will!"

"Don't you dare!" Aden protested. "I'll never speak to you again! I mean it! And anyway, we're hanging out tonight so I've decided I'm going to ask her out… tell her how I feel about her."

Joey smiled, not joking around anymore.

"I'm glad, Aden," she said. "You deserve to be happy."

"Well, I'm sick of living with you and Charlie, all smug and coupled up," he complained.

"Hey, Ruby's single," Joey chuckled.

"Yeah, but she's studying now she's doing this whole empowered, single thing," Aden said. "Which of course, we're all proud of her for."

"Very proud," Joey agreed.

Charlie had worked very hard to get Ruby to retake her missed exam and she had spent a lot of time on the phone to get her a place at University for next year. She had point blank refused to move away as planned and so now, she was doing extra adult education courses in between that were more relevant to her new degree choice. Clearly affected by the shooting, Ruby had decided she wanted to become a Doctor. It was going to take a lot of work, she knew. And so she had decided that now was not the time to get distracted by dating. She had most definitely ended things with Casey who looked forlorn every time anyone saw him around the Bay and she was adamant that she did not want to meet anyone new. Alex had promised to help her study as much as she could.

"She's a good kid," Aden said.

"She is," Joey agreed. "As for you, I'm glad you're going for it. All jokes aside, Belle would want you to meet someone and be happy."

He nodded.

"I know," he said. "I'm going to try."

He handed over the food. She paid, patting his hand. Leaving the Diner, she waved at Willow and Dean who waved back. Jumping in the car she shared with Aden, she headed home, eager to see her girlfriend.


Charlie was studying at home and eager for lunch time to arrive as with it, would bring both food and Joey. She smiled when she heard the door open.

"Honey, I'm home!" Joey called.

Jasper jumped up eagerly, tail wagging as he barrelled towards Joey. She bent to meet him.

"I was kind of calling to Charlie but I love you too, Jasper," she said, ruffling his fur.

He followed her eagerly around the bungalow as she made her way towards Charlie at the table.

"Studying hard, Detective?" Joey asked, kissing her.

"Of course," Charlie said.

Joey took a seat and put their food down.

"How did you session go?"

Charlie flexed her biceps. Joey grinned and gave them a squeeze.

"You are so hot," she said.

Charlie snorted.

"I'm not even joking!" Joey protested.

Charlie kissed her hand and told her she loved her.


It was a couple of days later and Alex and Willow had officially moved into their new house. It was beautiful and exciting and Willow could hardly believe that she actually loved someone so much that she was living with them. Alex felt like she could finally relax. Two years ago, her whole life had been thrown into turmoil but with Willow, she had finally found somewhere she could call home. They loved each other. They trusted each other. They wanted the best for each other. She could genuinely see them having a happy future together. Willow was everything she wanted.

"I think we should call it a day with the boxes," Willow decided.

They had been working flat out all day.

"Well, if you didn't have so much stuff…" Alex complained.

Willow grinned and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist, pulling her closer.

"Well, all my stuff is just one of the many things you're going to have to love about me," she told her.

"I love everything about you," Alex said seriously.

Willow smiled shyly. Alex kissed her softly. Willow kissed her back, harder.

"I read somewhere that there's a rule about christening a house on the very first night you move in…" she whispered.

Alex grabbed her hand. They hurried upstairs.


Not far away, Charlie and Joey lay in bed. The moonlight shone through a small gap in the curtains. Charlie lay on her back. Joey lay beside her on her side.

"You look so beautiful," Joey said quietly.

"In the dark?" Charlie half laughed.

"I can see you," Joey told her.

It was true. She could see her and she did look beautiful. She kissed the tip of her nose. Charlie smiled. Joey made her feel loved. She made her feel safe. And she made her feel wanted.

"I always see you," Joey said more seriously.

Charlie tilted her head to look at Joey.

"I see how beautiful your heart is," Joey told her. "I see how strong you are and how hard you try. I see your determination. I see what a wonderful mother you are. You're amazing, Charlie."

Charlie hoped she didn't see her blushing.

"Well, I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you, Joey," she said. "You keep me strong. You make me so happy. You're my whole life."

They kissed softly. Joey gently stroked Charlie's hand, tracing her fingers up her arm. Charlie recalled that emotional moment of intimacy in the hospital. She let out a breath and closed her eyes, enjoying the way Joey touched her. She never wanted her to stop touching her. Ever.

"Thank you for coming back for me, Joey," she said, her eyes still closed, enjoying Joey's touch. "Thank you for still believing in me, in us. Thank you for giving me another chance."

"Of course I came back," Joey said. "I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else."

THE END


Thank you all so much for reading this story, especially those of you who have taken the time to review it. I appreciate every reader and every reviewer. I do hope you have enjoyed it and I hope that chapters might have cheered up your day when things have been tough during these days. I do have another story on its way, written by me with the initial idea by Luckdog. I hope to start posting by the end of the week. I don't have a title yet! Love, IJKS xxx