Okay, I know I said I was getting back to another story but I've had this for a while now. It's based on the London and Heath's baby story lines so I wanted to get it out before it's gone too far and no one remembers them, enjoy.
A few things you should know, 1. Brax and Charlie are married but not together, they have two daughters Ruby and Cassie. Cassie is away at Uni and will pop in every now and again.
2. Ricky will be shed in new light as portrayed on the show-keeping the story line as close as I can.
3. As usual Jack and Peter are Charlie's brothers and Tony her father, except Tony isn't a nice guy...you'll find out why further along. Their mum is alive but not seen much-again, you'll find out further along.
Charlie turned off the tv as she heard the door open "hey sweetie, good day at school?" she asked. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily when Ruby began to bang around the kitchen, standing up she walked to the doorway "bad day then?"
"Someone asked me what it was like going to see dad in prison," Ruby muttered.
"Oh," Charlie said "I'm sure she was just curious," she added.
"Why won't he let me see him mum?" she whimpered and turned to face her "I miss him so much can he not see that?"
Charlie walked to her and wrapped her arms around her "your dad loves you very much, this isn't easy for him Rubes. He doesn't want you to see him like that, he doesn't want you to see him in there where he can't even hug you or spend time with you."
Ruby leaned into her "I don't care, I just want to see my dad," she whimpered and burst out crying.
Charlie pulled her closer and held her tight, closing her eyes she cursed Daryl Braxton. She understood that he had to do the right thing, she just wished it didn't affect his daughter so much.
Ruby opened her eyes and shock riddled her body at the person standing by the door watching her with tears in his eyes "dad?" she said shakily.
"I know you miss him sweetie I do too, but you have to understand it's what he wants, it was eating him alive he had to come clean," Charlie said unaware he was behind her.
"No, dad," she said and pushed Charlie off her "you're really here?" she asked running to him.
"Yeah baby, I'm really here," Brax replied and pulled her to him "I've missed you so much," he said and buried his face in her hair as she burst out crying.
Charlie didn't react-she didn't know how to, they'd been in the court room when he was sentenced to ten years…but she still couldn't help the burst of happiness that bolted through her like lightening. Looking away she wiped her tears away her happiness short lived, how on earth is he here?
Ruby pulled back and looked up at him "how are you here? Are you home for good?"
Brax looked over at Charlie "yeah I'm home but we'll talk later, right now I need to talk to your mum can you give us a minute?"
Ruby smiled and hugged him "I've to meet Kyle anyway…love ya dad!" she called as she skipped out the back door.
"Kyle?" Brax asked as soon as she was gone.
Charlie nodded "he was there for her a lot they've grown close…what are you doing here Brax?"
Brax walked to her "I didn't break out if that's what you're thinking…I walked on a technicality," he said and pulled her into a hug.
Charlie sighed with relief and leaned into him "I can't believe you're here," she sniffed.
Brax pulled back and looked down on her "tears from you too?" he chuckled.
"Shut up," she said and pulled him back to her.
Brax rested his cheek on her head "how were the girls while I was away?"
"Cassie was okay, she went back to the city and Uni after a week. Ruby was crushed she started drinking and staying out all night, she was in trouble at school everyday…she was a mess," Charlie replied honestly.
Brax closed his eyes and sighed heavily he never wanted his daughters to have to go through something like this "and none of the boys stepped in?"
"To be honest Brax they were just as bad, I found her and Casey wasted on the beach one night followed by Heath in Angelo's and Kyle in a fight…I've been trying to hold them all together," she replied.
Brax pulled away and led her to the table "where were Ricky and Bianca?"
Charlie's eyes went wide at the mention of Ricky, she'd seen her a few weeks back in the arms of doctor Nate Cooper, when she confronted her she had told her Brax had broken up with her and told her to move on "uh, Bianca's been in the city with the school board trying to arrange for the Mangrove river kids to join summer bay high…Heath wouldn't let me call her."
"And where was Ricky while all this was happening?" He asked "she promised me she'd look out for them."
Charlie sighed he was going to find out eventually "a few weeks after you broke up with her she decided to move out, she found out you'd been transferred and the boys knew about it."
"So she's gone?" Brax asked a little crushed.
"Not exactly…she's with someone else," she said slowly.
Brax nodded and looked down at the table "I did tell her to move on…didn't think she'd abandon the boys though."
Charlie could tell he was crushed that Ricky was with someone else. Their own break up had been mutual and everyone involved was okay with that, they were able to stay friends and remain close but she just didn't want to involve herself in Brax's love life "why don't we round up the family and go have dinner together later?" she asked changing the subject.
Brax nodded "yeah, sounds good, I came to ask you could Rubes stay at mine for a while."
Charlie nodded and stood up "of course, she's missed you I'm sure she'll jump at the chance-but no cutting school Brax you hear me."
"She won't be, I know her exams are coming up," he replied and stood up "so who's Ricky with?"
Charlie sighed and turned back to him "I think you need to find that out from Ricky Brax, it's not my place to say."
Brax nodded and played with his fingers "so it's someone I know?"
Charlie chuckled and kissed him on the cheek "you're not getting anything from me, go see your brothers, do they even know you're home?"
"Nah, here was my first stop, and to call Cassie," Brax replied and walked to the door "let me know what time dinner is."
"Hey Brax," she said and waited for him to turn back "it's great to see you home…I kinda missed you," she smiled.
Brax chuckled and walked back to her "of course you did you love me," he said and kissed her on the forehead "but I missed you too Charlz," he said and walked out the back door.
Charlie sighed and leaned against the counter, tonight should be fun.
Ruby skipped into Angelo's "hey Ricky," she smiled as she passed her.
"What's got you all happy?" Ruby chuckled.
"Is it true?" Kyle asked running up to her "Case called...is Brax home?"
"Brax is home?" Ricky cut in, to say she was shocked was an understatement.
Ruby narrowed her eyes at Kyle, she was happy her dad was home but she also knew Ricky should find out from him "uh, yeah, he just turned up at my house."
"How?" Ricky asked "I mean he got ten years how is this possible?"
"I don't know," Ruby shrugged "he asked me to leave him and mum to talk, all I know is he's not going back…I'm sorry Ricky, if my uncle hadn't such a big mouth my dad would have come seen you himself."
Ricky nodded in a daze she couldn't believe this "you okay Rick?" Kyle asked.
"What?" she asked looking at them "oh yeah, I'm fine, nothing to do with me anymore…I have to go," she said and hurried off.
"Well done genius," Ruby said as they walked to the bar.
"I didn't see her standing there and I am pretty shocked," Kyle replied "I mean we were all there, how did he walk away from this one?"
"I don't know," Ruby replied "but he's home and he's not going anywhere…do you need a hand with anything?"
"Actually I do, Tamara called in she's gonna be late, can you help me set up for the dinner rush?" he asked.
"Sure," Ruby nodded "I'll set the tables," she added and walked by him.
"Put a reserved sign on the big table," Kyle said "your mum just called we're all having dinner at six."
Outside Brax walked off the beach, he was on his way to Angelo's to see how things were when he spotted Ricky hurry from the place. Walking after her he stopped when she stopped to talk to Nate, deciding what he had to say was more important than whatever conversation they were having he started to walk towards them. He stopped again when Nate pulled her to him, he sucked in a deep breath as Ricky titled her head and kissed him.
Shaking his head he watched them kiss before Nate wrapped his arm around her and they started to walk off. Turning back towards Angelo's he punched the fence he couldn't believe she'd moved on so soon-and with the stupid hot new doctor too.
Making his way upstairs he looked around, the place looked like it was doing well Kyle really knew what he was doing-of course he did or he wouldn't have been left in charge. Grabbing a beer he slipped out onto the balcony unnoticed.
Which didn't last too long, Ruby had spotted glasses on the tall tables outside and had come to bring them in when she spotted him leaning over the rail watching something. Looking over she spotted Nate and Ricky having a romantic walk on the beach hand in hand, shaking her head she walked to him "dad?" she asked and leaned on the rail beside him "if it's worth anything she still loves you."
Brax smiled and wrapped his arm around her "you and your sister are the only girls I need in my life," he said and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
Ruby leaned into him she'd missed his hugs so much "dad, can I ask you something?" she asked a few minutes later.
"Sure baby, what's on your mind?" he asked.
"Mum, Ricky, Heath, Case and Kyle all got to see you-Nan did too…why not me and Cassie?" she asked.
Brax turned her to face him "because you're my baby girls and love you too much to have you see me in there," he replied honestly.
"I wouldn't have cared I just wanted to see you," she replied.
"Well I did care, I couldn't looking at your broken faces or your tears knowing I put this all on you…you're my babies and I'll protect you until the day I die," Brax said seriously.
"Did you not miss me?" she whimpered.
"Of course I did sweetie, so much," he said and pulled her back to him "the only picture I had with me was one of you and Cassie, I looked at it for hours every night just wondering what you were doing, hoping you were doing okay."
"I coped," Ruby sighed.
"By what? Getting wasted and skipping school?" he asked raising an eyebrow "yeah, mum told me all about that," he chuckled when she began to panic "and we are gonna talk about all that stuff, just not tonight," he said and kissed her on the head "I better see Kyle before he snaps that bar in two," he said and walked inside.
Ruby turned and watched Kyle hurry around the bar and hug Brax surprised when Brax didn't shove him off, he never let anyone other than her and Cassie hug him-or Charlie…which was weird, she'd never even seen him hug Ricky.
Walking inside she smiled as Charlie walked in with Heath and Bianca "hey guys," she said happily.
"That is the smile right there," Bianca chuckled "the smile my husband has being wearing since Casey called…where is he?" she asked looking around.
"He just went out back with Kyle, he should be back in a sec," Ruby replied and led them to the table "I'll go let them know you're here…and just a heads up, dad saw Ricky with Nate," she said and walked off.
"Dad, mum Uncle Heath and Bianca are here," she said sticking her head into the kitchen.
"Case and Cheryl will be here any second," Kyle added.
"Let's go get this party started then," Brax said and walked out to meet them.
A while after dinner everyone decided to stay for a few drinks, Charlie noticed Brax slip off from the group. Standing up she walked back to his office and walked in "knew you'd be in here," she said and closed the door.
Brax smiled quickly and sat up properly "just wanted a few minutes alone," he replied.
"You're not moping over Ricky are you?" she asked dropping onto the desk.
"Well I did tell her to forget about me and it did kinda suck to see her with the doc," he said and grabbed her hand "but I'm so glad I still have you."
"Brax you need to give her some time, like you said you told her to forget about you, all she's trying to do is move on with her life, just go talk to her tomorrow" Charlie replied and stood up "come on and stop moping you owe me a few drinks."
Brax followed her and wrapped his arms around her "what would I do without you eh?" he asked as he walked her to the bar.
"What did I tell you about groping mum in public dad," Ruby groaned "it's weird you're not even together anymore."
"Hey, you're both single," Heath chuckled "and married to each other, I say go for it mate."
"Heath!" Ruby squealed.
Brax chuckled "don't worry Rubes me and your mum won't be going there again," he said and looked at Heath "and what have I told you about saying things like that in front of my daughter?"
"She's sixteen it's not like she doesn't know what sex is," Heath replied.
"And you won't again if you don't shut up," Bianca said narrowing her eyes at him.
Charlie laughed and pulled away from Brax "one more drink then I have to head, I have the early tomorrow."
"Ah call in sick Charlie," Casey said "we're gonna be here all night."
"No you're not," Brax cut in "you and Ruby have school tomorrow and so does Bianca, we'll wrap this up after this drink," he said and went behind the bar.
"Can we have tomorrow off dad?" Ruby asked "this is a pretty special occasion."
"You're going, I'll still be here when you get home," Brax replied "you can't miss school you have exams-either of you," he added when Casey laughed.
"You suck," Ruby mumbled.
"I heard that," Brax said "maybe I wont suck so much when you see where I'm taking you tomorrow," he winked and walked off.
After finishing her drink Charlie bid goodnight to everyone and decided to walk home along the beach. When she got to the strip she found Brax sitting in the sand looking out to the water "hey," she said stopping in front of him.
"Hey," he replied "you're going home?" he asked.
Charlie nodded "I'm up at six," she replied and sat beside him "have you been out on it yet?" she asked nodding to the water.
"Nope, waiting until tomorrow so Rubes can come with me…where is she by the way?" he asked.
"She insisted on staying at yours so Casey and Kyle walked her home to get her stuff," Charlie replied.
Brax nodded and lifted up a bottle "you want some?" he asked.
Charlie saw the bottle was half gone and sighed "no and either do you," she said taking it from him "you've had enough," she added and poured it into the sand. "Come on," she said and stood up "you can walk me home."
"That was top notch stuff," Brax said and stood up "you're lucky I love you."
"You'll thank me tomorrow," she said seriously and started to walk "I know everything is a mess now Brax and you miss Ricky, your head is all over the place, but please don't turn to drink it doesn't solve anything."
"Oi," he said pulling her back "I'm just letting off some steam, my girls are all that matters to me."
"Like you did when all that stuff with Adam came about?" she asked.
"That was different," he shot back "Heath could have died-I could have died."
"All I'm saying is remember how it turned out last time, Ruby refused to see you for weeks then she was riddled with guilt when we were by your bedside. Cassie was just as bad because she thought you were gonna die with her last words to you being I hate you…I don't want them getting hurt again they've been through so much already," Charlie said as they walked up her drive.
"Charlie," he said and turned her to face him "my daughters comes first, I will put them above all else you don't gotta worry okay," he said and pushed some hair behind her ear "it's been a few hours I'm still tryna adjust."
Charlie nodded and stepped away from him "just so you know I'm always here."
"I know you are," he smiled "anyway, get to bed, I'll see you tomorrow," he said and walked off.
"Hey Brax!" she called "you got time for a coffee?"
Brax chuckled and walked back to her "is this your way of saying you wanna spend some time with me?"
Charlie shrugged and walked into her house "you missed a lot of coffee mornings."
Brax walked in and leaned on the counter beside her as she made coffee "well they're back on, and we've plenty more to come," he said and took a cup from her "so I haven't seen James around, something going on there?"
Charlie's face went blank turning her back on him she started to wipe down the counter "he moved to Melbourne."
Brax choked on his coffee "what?" he asked wide eyed "Charlie why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you had enough going on with your trial and I had the girls to think about," she shot back.
"That long?" he yelled "Charlie that was over six months ago."
"Yeah so I've had time to get over it," she said and sat down "I'm fine Brax alright, no need to make a big deal out of it."
Brax shook his head and sat beside her "so what have I missed?" he asked changing the subject.
The next morning Brax spotted Ricky sitting alone on the beach, looking around to make she no one was around he made his way to her "hey," he said waiting for her to look up.
"So it is true then," she said and looked out to the water "you're back for good?"
"Yeah," he said and sat beside her "someone else confessed to Johnny Barrett's murder and brought them to the body…you know anything about that?"
Ricky shrugged "I went to see Adam, he told me Johnny Barrett was still alive when he told you to take off…I asked him to do the right thing and he refused, so I thought that was it you were gone away for a long time."
"So you jump into bed with the nearest bloke?" Brax asked bitterly.
Ricky snapped her head to him "you don't get to be angry about it Brax!" she hissed and stood up "you were the one that broke up with me even after I said I'd wait for you. You were the one that told me you didn't want to see me again."
"Rick, I'm sorry," he said and jumped up "I have no right to be angry at you, letting you go was the biggest mistake I ever made."
"Well it's a mistake you're gonna have to live with!" Ricky hissed I'm happy with Nate now and guess what!" she yelled "he's so much better than you! He's drama free, he tells me things, he shares his feelings with me! You and I are done, we're in the past…too much has happened since you went away, it's best we leave it as it is."
"But I still love you Ricky," Brax sighed "that's gotta count for something."
"Yeah, well, you should have thought about that before you broke my heart…leave me alone Brax, I was happy before you came back please leave me to get on with it," she said and hurried off.
"Ricky!" Brax called after her, when she didn't stop or answer him he sighed heavily and dropped into the sand what now? He asked himself, he'd done what Charlie had said, he'd given her time to get her around him being back, what else was there to do?
Charlie stood not far away, having seen Ricky storm off she knew it didn't go well. Looking down at the coffee she'd grabbed on her break she made her way to him and sat down beside him without a word.
Brax glanced at her as she held out her coffee, taking it from her he took a sip and lay back on his elbows "I've lost her Charlie."
"Maybe she needs more time," Charlie suggested.
"She told me she was happy with Nate and to leave her alone," he said.
"Oh," Charlie said and looked around she really didn't know what to say "I'm sorry Brax," she said placing her hand on top of his "maybe she's still angry at you…give her a bit more time to calm down and think about what she wants."
Brax sighed heavily and stood up "you should get back to work," he said handing her back her coffee.
"I'm in no hurry," she replied.
Brax smiled and pulled her to her feet "you don't have to worry about me Charlie, I'm a big boy I'll be fine."
Charlie chuckled and brushed herself down "but I do worry…I'll call you later," she smiled and walked off towards her car.
"Hey Charlie!" he called and jogged after her "can I come over later?"
"Sure," she nodded "you know you can come over whenever you want."
"No I meant can I come over to see you?" he asked.
Charlie blew out a breath "Brax if you think sleeping with me will take yo-"
"No, no," he cut in "I meant because my house is so full and I need a time out."
"Oh," Charlie chuckled "yeah that's fine I'll be home round six if you wanna have dinner with us then we can watch a movie or something."
"You the best," Brax said and kissed her on the cheek "I'll see ya later," he said and took off.
As soon as he was gone Charlie pulled out her phone and called Bianca "hey B," she said happily "listen I'm gonna have to cancel tonight, something came up in work I have to stay back. I'm free now if you wanna grab lunch, cool, I'll meet you at the diner say ten minutes? Okay bye," she said and hung up. She hated lying to Bianca but when it came to her and Brax Bianca always said they were still in love with one another and would question her.
Walking along the beach back to her car Charlie saw Ricky sitting behind one of the boats "hey," she said walking to her "everything okay?"
"Yeah, if that husband of yours would leave me alone!" she snapped.
"Okay," Charlie said slowly "forget I asked," she said and went to walk off.
"Charlie wait I'm sorry," Ricky said and stood up "I'm just all over the place."
"Feel like talking?" she asked.
Ricky sighed "it's all just thrown into a tailspin since Brax came back…I don't know what I want now."
"You still love him," Charlie said "you're bound to be confused and angry."
"He let me go I owe him nothing," Ricky said quickly.
"No you don't," Charlie agreed "but this is hard for him too Ricky, I'm not saying you owe him an explanation but you should talk to him about Nate…how would you feel if you came back to see him with another woman?"
Ricky scoffed "I had to put up with you and your weird relationship, and your kids there all the time for almost a year, what difference would another woman make?"
"I asked you had you a problem with that and you said you were fine with it," Charlie said angrily.
"Please," Ricky laughed "I only said that because he flat out said he'd never divorce you it was the only way to keep him…I didn't think you'd be dumping your kids on us all the time to hook up with a guy. Brax is still in love with you it pissed him off every time you went with James…you know what," she said smartly "why don't you two get back together that'll solve everything!"
"Excuse me!" Charlie yelled "get you shit together and stop taking it out on the people that are actually trying to help!" she yelled and walked off in a very bad mood.
Later that evening Charlie Brax and Ruby had just finished dinner "like old times," Ruby smiled.
"Yeah it was," Brax smiled and looked over at Charlie "are you okay? You've barely said anything since I got here."
"What? Sorry, yeah I'm fine, I just have a headache," she lied.
"You sure that's all it is mum?" Ruby asked "you have your pissed off but trying to hide it face on."
"I'm fine," Charlie chuckled "I'll bring the plates in if you two wanna move to the sofa."
"Actually," Ruby said and stood up "I'm staying at April's tonight, we have an assignment due tomorrow that Zak only reminded us about today."
"But your dad has come over to spend some time with you," Charlie said.
"I know and I really wish I could stay but I have to get this done…you understand dad right?" she asked looking at Brax.
"I do, school comes first," he said and started to help Charlie clear away "do you need a ride over?" he asked.
"Thanks but I'm meeting her at the diner so I'll just walk…bye!" she called on her way out.
Brax walked into the kitchen and placed the plates down beside Charlie "now that she's gone you wanna tell me what's really bothering you?"
"It's nothing," Charlie sighed "I just had a run in with Ricky earlier, it's fine," she said and went to walk off.
"Oi, hold up," he said pulling her back "what do you mean a run in?"
Charlie groaned this is why she didn't want to get involved "I saw her after you left she was upset so I asked her if she wanted to talk."
"Okay, and?" he asked.
"And she flipped," Charlie replied "she said when you were together I was always dumping the girls on you-she basically called me a bad mother."
"She what?" he yelled and made a move for the door.
"Brax don't," she said and followed him "if you go over there yelling you'll never get her back."
"No one is going to speak to you like that-not even her!" he yelled angrily.
"Brax come back inside, you know you'll only make things worse!" she called after him.
Brax walked back to her "you're right, of course you're right," he said and sat at the table "what else did she say?"
"Let's just forget about it and stick on a movie," Charlie replied.
"You can dodge it now but you know I'll be back," he said and went to the living room.
Charlie followed him and sat beside him "alright, lets get this out of the way now then."
"What else did she say to you?"
"I asked her to come talk to you about what's going on with Nate, I asked her how would she feel if it were the other way around…then she went on about us," Charlie said.
"Us?" he asked raising an eyebrow "what did she say about us?"
"She was never happy with how close we were…she said she only told you she was fine with it because you told her we'd never divorce and she wanted to be with you."
"I told her from the start that would never happen," he sighed "she knew what she was letting herself in for," Brax replied "is that all she said?"
"No," Charlie chuckled "she said you were still in love with me and you were pissed off every time I went to meet James…and we should just get back together."
"She said I was still in love with you?" Brax asked surprised.
"Yep, I think she just said all that because she needed to let her anger out on someone," Charlie said and grabbed the remote "she's more messed up than she's letting on, just leave it now I'm sure she'll be apologising tomorrow."
"Yeah maybe," he replied and looked to the tv "what are we watching?"
"Not really bothered, you pick," Charlie replied.
"Me either," he said and took the remote from her "we'll just watch this then," he said leaving on the first thing that came on.
A while later Brax looked over at Charlie, since he'd turned on the tv they'd both been silent and lost in their own thoughts "hey," he said nudging her "what happened with you and James?"
Charlie looked over at the tv and sighed, he was the last person she wanted to know about what happened "nothing, it just wasn't working out and he got a new job so he left."
"Charlie, I know when you're keeping something from me, what really happened?" he asked scooting closer to her.
"I said nothing," she huffed and stood up "why are you so worried about me? Shouldn't you be worrying about getting Ricky back?"
Brax sighed and followed her to the kitchen now he definitely knew she was keeping something from him "because I care about you and I want to know what happened."
"Well I am fine like I've said, we broke up Brax it happens," she said as she moved about the kitchen.
Brax pulled his phone out as it beeped and read the text, sighing he shoved it back into his pocket and grabbed his keys "I have to go to Angelo's Kyle needs me to sign stuff."
Charlie nodded and turned to face him "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.
"Yes Brax I'm fine…go," she said nodding to the door.
"Alright, we'll talk tomorrow," he said and kissed her on the forehead before slipping out the door.
Charlie threw the towel down and sighed heavily-he could not find out about what happened.
Arriving at Angelo's Brax found Ruby at one of the table alone with her school work out "hey baby," he said and sat beside her "I thought you were going to April's."
"I was, I got there and Bianca was crying and freaking out so I said I'd leave them to it, I'll be going back to yours is that okay? I've already called mum."
Brax nodded and stood up "I just have to do a few things here then I'll take you over."
"Thanks dad," she smiled and went back to her project.
Brax walked into the kitchen to find Kyle clearing up "what do you need me to sign?" he asked.
"A few holiday slips and Ben needs a reference for his new job, he asked if you'd sign it" Kyle answered.
Brax nodded "are they on the desk?" he asked, Kyle nodded and went back to cleaning "hey Kyle," he said and walked back to him "you were around Charlie's house a lot while I was away?"
"Yeah, almost everyday…why?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"So you saw James around a lot?"
Kyle's face went the way Charlie's had "uh, no, not really, he was there the odd time…I have to take the bins out," he said and went to walk by him.
"No you don't," Brax said and pulled him back "Charlie had the same look on her face when I asked about him, what's going on?"
Kyle pulled his arm away and walked to the door "I don't know what you're talking about…the guy moved away that's all I know," he added and walked off.
Brax sighed what the hell was going on? Going to his office he did the paperwork and walked back to Ruby "ready to go Rubes?" he asked.
"Yep," she said and followed him out the door.
When they arrived at Brax's place Casey was watching tv, Brax walked by him without a word. "Hey Case," Ruby said and dropped her bag.
"Hey Rubes," he replied "what's up with him?"
"I don't know," Ruby said watching him bang about the kitchen "but I'll find out," she added and walked into him. "Dad what's going on?"
Brax looked over at her, if anyone would know it would be her, he really didn't want to drag her into this though-but he had to find out what happened "why is everyone acting weird when I mention James? See," he said pointing to her face "that's he face I'm getting off everyone I ask…what happened?"
"Then don't ask," Ruby shrugged and walked by him, she knew Charlie told her not to ever tell him but the guy was a jerk and Brax deserved to know-she still couldn't tell him though he'd hit the roof and go off like a crazy person.
"Something happened Rubes I know it did, and I know you Kyle and your mum know about it," he said and followed her.
"Look dad, Mum's moved on it's not a big deal anyway…I have to finish my assignment," she said and hurried off to her room.
Brax went to follow her but stopped when the front door opened and a panicked Heath burst in "what the hell is wrong with you?" he asked.
"Bianca? Have you seen Bianca?" he asked quickly.
"No," Brax said slowly "you two fighting?" he asked remembering Ruby had said she was upset.
"No," Heath huffed and dropped onto the arm of the sofa "guess who turned up at my door this avo."
"Who?" Brax asked walking to him.
"The chick from Melbourne," Heath sighed.
"What did she want?" Casey asked.
"What did she want mate?" Brax asked when he didn't answer.
Heath stood up and began to pace "she's eight and a half months pregnant."
Brax stared at Heath and shook his head "you're a moron, I told you that would come back to bite you," he said and walked to sit beside Casey "Bianca knows then?"
Heath nodded "she knocked and I didn't know Bianca was behind me."
"Is that what all that yelling was about a while ago?" Casey asked.
Brax looked over at Casey for a second then back to Heath "how did she know where you lived?"
Heath shrugged "I wasn't really worried about that I was too busy trying to get her away from the house," he sighed "what will I do now?"
Brax stood up and walked to his phone "I don't know mate, maybe leave her to calm down for the night," he said and walked into the kitchen with his phone to his ear. "Charlie?" he asked when she answered "I need you to do me a favour."
"I can't tonight Brax, I'm here with Bianca she's a real mess, I can't leave her," Charlie replied.
"That's actually what I was gonna ask you to do, Heath turned up here too…how she doing?" he asked.
"Well she's not taking it well that's for sure…what the hell was he thinking?" she sighed.
"I know," he replied "don't let her do anything rash, I'll keep him away for the night…call me later and let me know how she is."
"Will do….tell Heath to sort it out fast I saw this Jess girl hanging around the diner, she doesn't look like she's going anywhere," she said.
Brax frowned "how do you know her or what she even looks like?"
"Because she looked lost and I asked her was she okay, when she mentioned Heath's name I said I was his sister-in-law," she replied.
"So you told her where he lived?" he sighed.
"No, I told her Bianca was my best friend and she'd better not mess with my family…and to leave town."
"That's my girl," Brax chuckled "anyway, I let you go, I'll talk to you later," he said and hung up.
Charlie sat down and sighed "I'm not your girl anymore," she muttered to herself, standing up she threw down her phone and walked back into Bianca.
A/N So that was the first chapter, slow build up I know but I'm trying to explain everything before the real drama starts…hope you enjoyed it, and don't forget to review J