Authors Note: I do NOT own Home and Away! All credit to the writers.
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Please Review as I would like to hear your thoughts and input on your story as I will be trying to incorporate would you would like so questions will be asked either at the start or end of the chapters.
If I am introducing a character for the first time into the story any information you need to know about them will be at the end of a chapter.
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Enjoy.
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Summary: Charlie returns to the bay after thirteen years, a pregnant single mother of two teenagers. Catching up with old friends she discovers who the father of her baby really is. Can an attraction turn to a relationship stable enough to face any drama?
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Chapter One: Old Friends.
Charlie let her left hand linger on the stone bench as she took in her surroundings, all of which had changed since she had last set foot in the house. She knew what her parents had done; they had tried to erase her existence. But Charlie refused to let it bother her, what mattered now was being back in Summerbay, a fresh start even if she was back in a town she had left thirteen years ago.
"Mum"
Charlie glanced up at the sound of her two daughters voices to see them walking out of the hall, they were dressed for the bench. "Huh?"
Ruby smiled. "You weren't listening were you?"
"No" Charlie admitted with a small blush.
Nicole held up her bag. "Swimming, are you coming?"
"Uh, sure" Charlie agreed nervously.
Since returning to Summerbay she hadn't been out in the view of the public eye, preferring to stay in the confinement of the house. She was scared of how certain people would react to the news that she was back in town.
"Are you going to change?" Ruby asked.
Charlie was coaxed from her thoughts as she allowed her right hand to travel to her rounded stomach. "No. No, I won't be swimming, I will just watch"
The girls shrugged. "Okay. Come on"
Charlie grabbed her clutch containing her belongings off the table by the door as she followed her daughters out of the house. She knew sooner or later the people of Summerbay would know she was back in town. Charlie knew it would be impossible to hide forever.
^..^
Sitting on the golden sand Charlie rubbed her stomach gently as she dug her toes into the clumps of sand at her feet. The cool breeze flowed against her soothingly as she looked out toward the ocean watching the girls as they tossed a beach ball around. Simple pleasures were everything.
In the distance to her right she could hear the laughing of two younger boys as they kicked a soccer ball around. The voice of the younger one reminded her of someone she once knew. The resemblance in the voice was unbelievable.
Charlie glanced down as the soccer ball hit her right foot.
"Sorry!"
Charlie looked up shielding her eyes from the sun with her right hand as the two young boys ran up to her. "That's alright"
"Are you new? I haven't seen you before" The older child asked as he moved his blonde hair from his eyes.
"I lived here a long time ago. I'm Charlie"
"I'm Ryan. This is my brother VJ" Ryan said as he nudged the little boy by his side. "He's shy"
Charlie nodded. "I'm a stranger"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "No one is a stranger in Summerbay"
Charlie chuckled softly. "I suppose that is true"
"Ryan! VJ! What have I told you two about talking to strangers?"
"She's not a stranger mum, she's Charlie" VJ said innocently as he looked up at his mother.
Charlie glanced up as a shadow fell over her, her breath catching in her throat. "L…Leah?"
"Charlie" Leah smiled softly. "Charlie. I can't believe it's you"
"You know her?" Ryan asked as he looked up at Leah.
"Yes. Charlie and I went to school together. We were best friends" Leah told the boys. "I can't believe your back"
Charlie smiled. "I just, I had to come home" Charlie gave a vague explanation.
Leah nodded in understanding as she watched Charlie rub her stomach. "You're pregnant"
"Nearly full term. It's still so surreal. I didn't expect to have another child after Ruby"
"Ruby?" Leah questioned in confusion.
Charlie smiled as she nodded towards the water. "Ruby is the one with brown hair, looks a lot like me. Nicole is the blonde, Roman's daughter"
Leah watched the two teenagers in the water, tossing the purple beach ball up in the air, both laughing when it hit Nicole square in the forehead. "Roman's daughter? Charlie, what exactly happened?"
Charlie sighed. "It's a long story, the gist is Roman left us and I have been raising Nicole as my own. Their thirteen, nearly fourteen"
Leah nodded. "Is the baby, Roman's?"
Charlie blushed as she looked down at her stomach. "No. Uh, that was more of a one night thing. Complete misjudgement on my part" Charlie told her.
Leah laughed. "We are all allowed a fling, Charlie" Leah placed her hands on her boy's shoulders. "I suppose you've already met VJ and Ryan"
"Yes. I can't believe you have children, two boys. Are you married?" Charlie asked.
Leah smiled. "Engaged but it's rather difficult to pick a wedding dress third time round. Boys why don't you go play" Leah suggested.
VJ shrugged as he picked up the soccer ball and ran down the beach with Ryan chasing after him, his arms stretched out.
Charlie patted the sand beside her. "Third time?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, a hint of a smile gracing her lips.
Charlie didn't exactly know what marriage was like; she hadn't come close to a relationship since Roman walked out on her eleven years ago.
"I married Vinnie" Leah sat down in the sand, looking out at her two boys kicking the ball back and forth.
Charlie smiled. "Your high school sweetheart" Charlie reminisced. She had always known they would get together, they were in love from the moment they saw each other.
Leah smiled sadly. "I got pregnant with VJ straight away, Vinnie died when I was five months pregnant"
"Oh no. Leah, I'm so sorry" Charlie whispered as she reached out to take her friends hand.
Leah squeezed gently. "Thank-you. I meet Dan Baker at the hospital when I was rushing into the ward overdue and demanding they induce me. He was laughing at me. We were only ever friends, we eventually married when VJ was one, not because we were in love but because he need Ryan to have a mother; he was three when we tied the knot. Dan helped me believe that love would be possible again"
Charlie could feel Leah's fingers tightening around her hand. "Why did you marry?"
"Dan had cancer, he knew he wasn't going to be around for Ryan so he wanted him to have a family, he died six months after we married. He wanted Ryan to have a mother since his won't claim responsibility. I love Ryan, I'm his mother now regardless of blood" Leah said fondly. "I meet Miles Copeland, two years ago. We got engaged six months ago. He loves Ryan and VJ, they love him. He completes the family unit"
"I'm so sorry you had to experience the deaths of two husbands, I wish I had been here for you" Charlie whispered as she wrapped her arms around Leah.
Leah embraced her old friend. "Don't be. Vinnie and Dan gave me two precious gifts in life, I'll forever be grateful to them"
"That's beautiful, Leah"
"I still can't believe your back in town. Bianca is going to go ballistic"
Charlie looked surprised. "Bianca is still here?"
Leah smiled. "She was never leaving. She met her husband here"
Charlie's jaw dropped. "She's married? I thought she swore off marriage after her parents divorced"
"Charlie, you've been gone thirteen years. Bianca's changed. When she first met him it was just about attraction. They feel in love quickly though"
Charlie nodded; she was pleased that Bianca had moved forward with her life. "I'm proud of her for overcoming her fear but I don't think she'll want to see me. Bi could always hold a grudge"
Leah snorted. "Yeah she can, but she'll be ecstatic to see you, Charlie, you were like her sister" Leah stood up, reaching out to help Charlie up. "Come on, I'll show you were she lives"
Charlie dusted herself off. "The girls..."
"Are thirteen. I'd like to meet them" Leah teased; she knew how mothers could be over protective.
Charlie looked out at the girls. "Nicole. Ruby"
"Ryan. VJ"
Charlie's girls came running out of the water, dripping wet. Ruby dropped the pink oversized beach ball to into the sand by her feet as she looked at Charlie.
"Yeah, mum?"
Charlie bent awkwardly at the waist to pick up the two fluffy blue towels, passing them to the girls. "I was going to go and catch up with some friends. This is Leah and her sons, Ryan and VJ" Charlie gestured to Leah who was standing with a child either side of her.
Ruby smiled. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ruby"
"I'm Nicole" Nicole piped up as she dried her hair.
"Nice to meet you both. Ruby, you look a lot like your mother"
Ruby grinned. "People always comment on our looks"
"You should go see your friends, we both know how long it's been" Nicole told her.
Ruby nodded in agreement. "We can look after your boys if you like"
Leah looked down at her sons. "I..."
"We'll take them to get milkshakes. Please tell me there is somewhere to get a decent milkshake" Ruby moaned as she rubbed her stomach.
Leah chuckled. "Of course. The boys will show you" Leah placed her hand on Ryan's head; he turned to look at her. "Tell Irene that it's on the house"
"Okay mum"
^..^
Bianca heard the knocking at the front door but failed to take one step as Harley latched onto her left leg pulling at the bottom of her dress.
Looking down she smiled at the eleven month old as his eyes shone up into hers, the same colour as his father.
"Mama"
Bianca reached down and rubbed her hand through his sandy blonde hair. "I need to get the front door"
"Up" Harley demanded as he stretched his arms up indicating that he wanted to be held.
Bianca sighed as she reached down and scooped him up into her arms. "Alright, let's see who's come to visit us"
"Mum, can you tell Uncle Kyle to stop tickling me?" Darcy shrieked as she stumbled over the back of the couch, Kyle chasing after her.
Bianca rolled her eyes. "Kyle. Darcy. Stop it"
"Arggh!" April shouted as they swished past the desk and the breeze caused her study notes to drop from the desk.
"Kyle. Darcy. Stop running around and help April pick up her papers" Bianca told them sternly, her voice loud as she swung the door open. "Leah, hey, come on in" Bianca failed to notice Charlie as she spun back around at the sound of a loud string of curse words. "Casey!" Bianca screeched.
"Tamara just…"
Bianca held her hand up. "I don't care" Bianca muttered as she placed Harley down in the porta cot much to his disgust. "Kyle. Casey. Tamara. April. Darcy. Outside, it's a beautiful day, enjoy it. If anyone is back in this house within the next two hours then you'll regret it"
"But I'm only nine. You can't send me out with these people" Darcy complained as she jerked her thumb in the teenagers direction.
Casey scoffed as he pulled her into a head lock. "What did you say squirt?"
"Uncle Casey!"
Bianca whistled. "Out!"
The five kids groaned as they scooped up their bags and headed for the door. "Let's go get money from Dad" Darcy told them.
"Good idea squirt" Casey ruffled her hair.
"Don't call me that!"
Bianca sighed as the front door swung shut and she collapsed into the arm chair beside Harley's porta cot pulling a cushion onto her lap and hugging it. "Thank god it's peaceful"
Charlie let out a little giggle at Bianca's actions. "It's nice to see you, Bi"
Bianca's head snapped up at the sound of Charlie's voice. "Charlie?! Oh my god. Charlie!" Bianca squealed as she flew up out of her chair and through her arms around her best friend. "I've missed you"
Charlie smiled as she hugged Bianca back tightly. "I've missed you too, Bi. Seems like you've been busy though" Charlie said as she pulled back and gestured towards the little guy looking at them with confusion. "Must say he doesn't look like you though"
Bianca smiled. "He's his father's spitting image. Biologically not mine" Bianca admitted as she ran her hand over the little boys hair. "Meet Harley"
"He is adorable" Charlie commented as she crouched down. "Hi Harley"
Harley glanced up in Bianca's direction. "Mama" He whined.
"Oh my. Charlie" Bianca shouted.
Charlie glanced up startled. "What?"
"You're pregnant!"
Charlie smiled as she rubbed her stomach. "Yeah, thirty six weeks and counting. Could come any day now"
Bianca reached forward and placed her hand on Charlie's stomach, looking up into the woman's eyes. "I missed you"
"I missed you too, Bi"
Leah chuckled. "I'm here to you know"
"It's okay. I love ya Leah"
The women jumped in fright at the sound of Heath's booming voice. Leah smirked when she saw Heath was the one who had spoken. "Heath Braxton loving me, oooh isn't it a dream come true" Leah teased.
Heath placed his hand over his heart as he mocked being wounded. "That hurts, Leah, it hurts" Heath place his arm around Bianca and kissed her temple, his left hand sliding over Harley's head. "Hey babe"
"I take it this is the husband" Charlie said making her presence known.
Bianca smiled. "Sure is. Heath this is Charlie Buckton, we grew up together"
Heath nodded. "Hey"
Bianca rolled her eyes. "Charlie this is my husband. Heath Braxton"
Charlie felt her body freeze up. "Did…Did you just say Braxton?"
Bianca nodded. "Yeah. How do you know the name? Don't tell me Heath has stolen from you, sold you drugs, oh god did he sleep with you?" Bianca's eyebrow was raised, her eyes narrowed as she stared at Heath.
Heath glanced down. "Woman! A little credit. If I slept with her I'd remember it" Heath scoffed.
Charlie shook her head back and forth. "There has to be heaps of Braxton's maybe you're not related" Charlie murmured to herself, trying to convince herself.
"Related to who, Charlie?" Leah asked as she laid her left hand on Charlie's arm to calm her.
Charlie looked over at Heath. "Darryl Braxton"
Heath let out a low whistle. "My older brother. What did he do to ya?"
Charlie sighed as she sat down on the edge of the couch. "Got me pregnant. You have to promise you won't tell him"
Charlie was shaken; the thought of her baby's father finding out scared her. After all he was a one night stand not after any commitment. It was what he had told her.
^..^
Below are Quick Details and Questions.
Quick Details.
Charlie (26).
Ruby is her biological daughter (13).
Nicole her adoptive daughter (13).
Leah (26) has two sons.
Ryan is her stepson (9).
VJ (7) is her biological child.
Bianca (26)
April is her half-sister (13).
Darcy is her stepdaughter (9).
Harley is her stepson (11 Months).
Heath (27) married to Bianca.
Miles (27) married to Leah.
Kyle (14) and Casey (14) live with Cheryl part-time since they also stay frequently at Heath and Bianca's house to escape the woman.
Tamara (14) lives with Heath and Bianca as they took her in when her parents abandoned her when she was just 11 years old.
Brax (28) doesn't currently live in Summerbay, and didn't raise his brothers as he left Mangrove River when he was 17.
You'll learn more about Brax's history as well as everyone else's as we flow through the story. Yes it's a CHAX story.
Question time:
Who would you rather see Nate Cooper with – Sophie or Ricky?
Are there any particular characters you would like to see introduced into the story?
I have love interests picked out for April and Kyle, but as the story progresses are there any pairs you would like to see?
Hope you enjoyed my first chapter.