Charlie paced the length of her room for what felt like hours, looking down at the timer going on her phone she groaned "come on," she whined and started to pace again. She shot back to her phone as it beeped, grabbing it she ran to the bathroom and skidded to a halt at the sink "please, please, please," she chanted and closed her eyes. Picking up the stick she held her breath and opened her eyes, her eyes went wide and a massive smile overtook her face "oh my god!" she squealed and jumped up and down "thank you! Thank you!" she yelled and ran to her bed.

Diving onto it she called Brax, the more it rang the more annoyed she was getting he should have been home an hour now. Huffing as it went to mail she dialled Angelo's number "hey Tam," she said happily "is he there?" she asked.

"Hey Charlie," Tamara replied "he sure is, hold on I'll pass you through to the office," she said and put her on hold.

Charlie bounced with excitement as she waited for him to pick up "come on Brax," she muttered.

"Hello," he sighed.

"Hey," she frowned.

"Hey babe," he sighed again "what can I do for you?" he asked.

Charlie frowned again and looked at the phone 'what can I do for you?' she asked herself "uh, just wondering when you'll be home since you said you'd be in at six."

"What time is it?" Brax asked "wow, nearly eight sorry babe I didn't realise I'm so busy here with paperwork."

Charlie rolled her eyes since they got married seven months ago he seemed to spend more and more time there than at home with her "so are you coming home then?" she finally asked.

Brax was silent for a minute "I'll be home for nine, I'm just gonna finish this pile in front of me."

"Okay," she sighed "but you better come home I have some news for you."

"Yeah?" he asked "what's it about?"

"You'll see when you get home," she replied, there was no way she was telling him she was finally pregnant over the phone.

"Okay," he chuckled "I'll be as quick as I can."

"Hurry, love ya," she giggled.

"Love ya too, bye babe," he chuckled and hung up.

Charlie lay back on the bed she was bursting with excitement, it had been a tough year for them. She'd had a miscarriage just before their wedding, things got very bad between them resulting in Charlie calling off the wedding and fleeing to her dads house.

She chuckled as she remembered Brax climbing through a window after her dad refused to let him in, they talked about everything and got back on track. After the wedding they decided to try again for another baby, she thought it would easily happen-but no, luck wasn't on their side. They tried for about two months before Brax suggested they go see a doctor, they were told there was nothing wrong with either of them and all was fine, he did mention the strain of planning a baby could delay things so they tried to just go with and see what happened…which it finally did five weeks ago like her test assured her.

Chuckling she closed her eyes, she couldn't wait for him to get home.

…

A while later Charlie jumped as she heard voices downstairs, looking at the clock she sighed as it read after eleven. Walking to the door she stuck her head out to listen "is that you Brax?" she called down.

"No mum!" Ruby called back "just me and April!"

"Okay!" she called back and walked over to get her shoes, if Brax didn't think he had to come home she'd go see him and remind him he had a life outside of Angelo's.

"Where you going this late Charlie?" April asked as she walked by them.

"Going to see Brax," she replied and grabbed her keys "Bianca called earlier she said I've to get a form off you to sign for a school trip, leave it on the counter with Ruby's!" she called on her way out the door.

Ruby and April looked at one another and frowned "you think her and Brax are fighting again?" April asked.

"Probably," Ruby sighed "all he does lately is work…come on, we go find this form and get to bed," she added and walked up the stairs.

Charlie arrived at Angelo's and took the stairs, turning the corner anger washed over her as Brax sat at the bar alone having a drink. "Busy my ass," she muttered, walking up to him she leaned on the bar waiting for him to look at her "forget something!" she hissed.

Brax closed his eyes and sighed "not now babe aye, I've had a rough day," he said scrubbing his hands over his face.

"You told me you'd be home, you knew I had something important to tell you!" she yelled angrily.

"Keep your voice down," he said and looked around quickly "you can tell me now," he added and looked back at her.

Charlie bit her tongue she was ready to explode "you know what!" she hissed taking a step back "forget about it, obviously this place is more important than me! I'm only your damn wife!" she yelled as she stormed off "don't bother coming home!" she threw over her shoulder as she disappeared down the stairs.

"Charlie!" he called after her "come on babe!" he tried next, sighing heavily he downed his drink. Standing up he grabbed his keys "night all!" he called and started to walk towards the exit.

"You're seriously not gonna follow her are you?" Tamara asked stopping him.

"Uh yeah I was," he replied "we kinda live in the same house," he chuckled and walked around her.

"She's gonna kill you!" Tamara called after him.

"I can handle her! She'll be fine," he called back and waked off to his car.

Arriving home he yawned and climbed out with bed on his mind, it had been a long long day-not to mention he had to fire two of his staff for taking drink, they were two good guys that he thought he could trust, the cctv disagreed. Sighing again he let himself in getting a glass of water he drank it as he walked to the living room, stopping when Charlie sat on the sofa watching tv.

Finishing his drink he placed the glass on the counter and walked to her, when she didn't look up he sat beside her and took the remote "I'm sorry okay," he said and turned off the tv "I should have been home when I said I was going to be."

Charlie stood up "I'm going to bed," she huffed and walked by him.

"I was late because I had to fire Ben and Jake!" he called after her.

Charlie stopped at the end of the stairs Ben and Jake were his two best workers, turning around she walked back to him "why?" she asked sitting beside him.

Brax sighed heavily and threw himself back on the sofa "that drink I've been missing every stock take?" He asked and looked over at her.

She nodded "the vodka and rum?"

"Yeah," he sighed and sat up again "turns out they've been taking two bottles each per shift and selling them cheaper."

"No," she gasped "they were stealing from you?" she asked shocked "what did you say to them? Did you call the police?"

"Oh they got an unpleasant ear bashing, I told them either the bottles are replaced or the money for them is to be waiting for me in the morning…that's why I was off with you on the phone, I'd just watched the footage and why I never came home at nine, I had just spoken to them. I'm sorry I was angry and hurt and I didn't want to come home to you in a bad mood."

Charlie sighed and sat back now she felt like an idiot "you should have told me the first time I called then I wouldn't have turned up like a lunatic."

"I didn't want you to worry about it," he said and pulled her to him "but you're right I should have told you."

Charlie tilted her head "I guess you're forgiven."

Brax chuckled and lowered his head "just so were clear," he said as he got closer "you're more important than anything else in this world," he said and kissed her slowly.

Charlie slid her hand onto his neck and deepened the kiss, she giggled as he pulled her onto him so she was straddling him "here okay?" he asked as he undid her buttons and nipped at her neck.

"Uh uh," she nodded as she slid his top up "they're out cold."

"Good," he replied and kissed her hard, just as he lay her back he groaned as his phone rang.

"Don't answer it," she said as he pulled back.

"I have to," he said and stood up "it's the alarm company," he added and walked to the kitchen.

Charlie sighed and sat up, pulling her shirt back on she looked up as he walked back in "the alarm is going off I have to go down."

She nodded and stood up as she fixed her buttons "I'll see you when you get back then," she said and walked up the stairs.

….

Brax arrived home about half an hour after the call, locking up downstairs he just went straight to bed. Tipping the door in he slipped in quietly he knew she was already mad at him he didn't want to make things worse. Slipping off his jeans and shirt he climbed in, settling down he reached out to pull her into him, lifting his head when she pulled away "what's wrong?" he frowned.

"Nothing," she mumbled "you're cold," she added and scooted away from him.

Brax sighed heavily and rolled onto his back "never bothered you before," he muttered.

Charlie shot up and whipped to face him "you're such an asshole!" she yelled and shot out of the bed "not only did you not turn up twice today, you brushed me off when I called, you made me feel like an idiot when I came looking for you, you didn't ask me what was so important, you didn't ask when you got home, and you took off again! All for Angelo's AGAIN AGAIN And AGAIN!" she yelled "it's always Angelo's Brax it's never me or my feelings or about the girls and I'm sick of it!" she hissed and stormed out of the room.

Brax sighed and sat up where the hell did that outburst come from? Hearing her crying in the spare room he pulled back the covers and walked down the hall. Trying the door he sighed when it was locked "babe," he said and tapped softly "open the door."

"No!" she cried "what do you care anyway! Just Leave me alone!" she sobbed.

Brax took a step back in shock what the hell was going on here? "Charlie," he said with hurt "of course I care you're my wife and I love you with all my heart…open the door?" he asked.

"No!" she yelled back "you don't love me! You don't give a damn about me!"

"Charlie," he said getting annoyed "open the door I'm not having this conversation with a door!" he hissed "open it!" he said and banged on it.

"Shut up!" she called back "you'll wake the girls."

Brax sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose walking to Ruby's room he stuck his head in to see both girls there and asleep, waking to the window he shut it and slipped back out closing the door quietly behind him, he walked back to the spare room "Charlie, I'll sit here all night if I have to," he said and slid to the floor.

A while later Charlie walked to the door and unlocked it, she'd had time to calm down now she was ready to talk. Walking back to the window she sat on the ledge and waited for him to come in.

Brax stood up and opened the door, slipping in he closed it and leaned against it "you wanna tell me what happened back there?"

"I can't do it anymore Brax," she whimpered "I can't feel like second best any longer."

"You're not second best Charlie," he said and walked to her "you know I love you, you know I'd do anything for you…you're my world," he said stopping beside her.

Charlie wiped her eyes and looked over at him "when was the last time you took me out? When was the last time you had dinner with us? When was the last time you lay on the sofa with me just doing nothing?"

"Charlie," he sighed and sat beside her "you know I was trying to re-launch Angelo's after I bought it you said you were fine with all the late nights and time away."

"Until it was back on its feet," she replied "the place is doing great since before we got married…I just feel like you don't love me anymore, that you'd rather be there," she muttered.

"Baby," he said and placed his hand on her knee "you should have told me how you felt," he said and moved closer to her "after everything we've been through after how hard we fought to be together you think I don't love you? Charlie I gave up everything for you I wanted you so much-I loved you so much I dropped everything and went straight just so I could be with you."

"Way to guilt trip," she muttered.

Brax chuckled and stood up "it's not a guilt trip I know you know what I gave up same way I know what you gave up…come here," he said and pulled her to her feet.

"You are the love of my life, you are my soul mate, my best friend, you have stolen my heart, you turned my world upside down and I couldn't be happier that you did. I can always count on you to be there for me and support me, no matter what I decided to do you always pushed me to do my best. I can never imagine my life without you in it, you're everything to me, without you I am nothing. Charlie you make me who I am today just knowing you love me back makes my heart hurt. I will love you more and more each day, I promise to love and protect you until the day I die."

Charlie sniffed as he stared back at her "you remember your vows."

"Second best day of my life," he said moving closer to her.

"Second?" she frowned.

"Yeah," he nodded and slid his hands onto her hips "meeting you is the first…come back to bed with me?"

Charlie giggled and looked up at him "I'm sorry…emotional day."

Brax chuckled and led her out of the room.

….

A few minutes later they lay in silence, Charlie was on his chest while he ran his hand up and down her arm "hey," he said nudging her so she'd look up "what was the important thing you had to tell me?"

Charlie sat up she'd forgotten about it…would explain all the emotions today "close your eyes," she said as she leaned over to her locker. Turning back to him she bit her lip as he closed them "now hold out your hands."

"Charlie I swear," he chuckled "you better not be putting anything inappropriate in my hands I'm too tired for any sort of fun tonight."

"Yeah," she giggled "that's exactly what it is," she said and dropped the test into his hands "I got a new vibrator."

She burst out laughing as he shot forward and opened his eyes "what!" he yelled horrified "what the hell do you need one of them for?"

Charlie giggled "look at it," she said nodding to his hand.

Brax looked down with disgust, as it dawned on him what it actually was a smile spread across his face. "Charlie," he gasped and looked at her "you're…when… this is real?" he asked "you're pregnant?" he asked moving closer to her.

Charlie nodded excitedly and bounced on the bed "surprise!" she yelled.

Brax caught a tear as it fell "I can't believe this," he said in amazement "we're having a baby," he said and looked at her stomach. Smiling he placed his hand on her stomach and looked up at her "I love you so much," he said and tugged her to him "I haven't been this happy since you agreed to marry me," he said and kissed her deeply.

Charlie pulled back as he tried to lie her back "Brax we need to talk we were arguing not an hour ago," she said seriously.

"Okay," he nodded and sat back "Is there anything else you need to get off your chest?"

Charlie nodded and looked down at her hands "I want to see more of you," she said and looked up at him "things are gonna change once this baby arrives. If we cant get back to how we used to be what chance do we have when there's a baby here?"

Brax slid his hand onto her cheek "I promise I'll do whatever you want me to…I'm sorry I haven't been here, I'm sorry I never realised how down you were or how you felt."

Charlie gave him a quick smile "spend less time at Angelo's?" she asked.

Brax smiled and tugged her gently towards him "you got it babe, starting tomorrow I'm gonna be here with you all the time."

"Thank you," she smiled and rested her forehead against his "I've missed you," she sighed.

Brax slid his other hand onto her cheek "don't ever doubt how much I love you, I will never stop loving you, if you ever feel like that again you tell me and I'll remind you."

Charlie leaned in and kissed him slowly just the way she knew drove him insane, lying back he pulled her on top of him with no interruptions this time.

The next morning Charlie groaned as Brax's phone rang, somehow she'd ended up over his side of the bed grabbing it she sighed as Angelo's came up on the screen "Brax," she said and shook him.

Brax took the phone from her and squinted to see who it was, cancelling the call he turned off the phone and threw it on the floor. Rolling to face her he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him "morning beautiful," he said and kissed the side of her head.

"Morning," she replied "you not gonna answer it?" she asked.

"Nope," he said and kissed her quickly "not going in today," he added and snuggled into her.

Charlie chuckled "did you think to let them know that?"

"Nope," he said and closed his eyes "I own it I can do what I want."

Charlie shook her head and closed her eyes another hour sleep was well needed after their late night.

They both opened their eyes as a tap came to the door, a sleepy Ruby stuck her head in "Liam's on the phone he said he tried yours," she said walking to the bed "there's an oven on fire or something," she added handing him the phone.

"Great," Brax sighed "Liam?" he greeted and listened "right," he finally said and rolled out of the bed "turn off the power and open all doors and windows I'll be down soon," he said and hung up.

"Is it bad?" Charlie asked sitting up.

"The fire is out it's just the smoke now, I'm sorry babe," he sighed "I know I said I'd be here today bu-"

"It's fine," Charlie said cutting him off "you need to go down."

"I just need to see how bad it is, we mightn't be able to open today," he said as he got dressed.

Charlie rolled out of the bed "do you want me to come with you and help out?"

"Nah," he said and walked to her "Liam said the place is full of smoke, I don't wanna risk anything," he said placing his hand on her stomach.

Charlie nodded "okay, just call me when you're done and I'll meet you at the diner or something."

Brax leaned in and kissed her "I love you," he said seriously.

Charlie smiled "I love you too."

"Don't buy anything for dinner I'm taking you out tonight," he said as he walked to the door "the girls can get pizza or something," he added.

Charlie chuckled and followed him "I'm sure they'll be happy with that."

"Of course they will," Brax chuckled "they'd eat it seven days a week if we let them, I gotta go," he said and kissed her quickly "see ya later!" he called on his way out.

….

A while later Charlie sat up on the rocks watching the water, she looked up when someone sat beside her "hey," she smiled "thought you were to call me."

Brax pulled her into him "I saw you first…whatcha doing out here?" he asked.

"Nothing," she replied and leaned into him "I was finished all my errands…how's Angelo's?" she asked.

"Back open, the smoke had died down by the time I got there we just had to reset all the tables and wiped everything down again."

Charlie nodded "how did the oven catch fire?"

"A spark from the light inside that blew set off a tray of grease that hadn't been emptied," Brax replied "thank god it was only a small try or I'd have lost the whole place."

"Yeah you were lucky…who was supposed to empty it last night?" she asked.

Brax chuckled "Jake, then me after I fired him, I wasn't thinking at all yesterday."

Charlie shook her head "you're an idiot…what do you wanna do now?"

Brax looked down on her "wanna go home and do nothing on the sofa?"

Charlie leaned in and kissed him "I'd love nothing more."

Brax stood up and held out his hands "do you want to come with me and I'll get your car later?" he asked.

Charlie nodded and let him pull her up "I don't need it until tomorrow anyway."

Arriving home Brax fell onto the sofa and pulled her with him "I need you to tell me your hours for next week," he said as he wrapped himself around her.

"Why?" she chuckled.

Brax kissed her quickly "because I'm doing the roster tonight and I want to be home when you're home."

Charlie smiled widely, he really had listened to her this time leaning up she kissed him sweetly "thank you," she smiled and lay her head back.

Brax pulled her closer "I meant what I said last night, nothing matters more to me than you and the girls."

Charlie smiled again "off Sunday in Monday to Wednesday six to six, off Thursday in Friday and Saturday eight to two."

"So we can go out Saturday night?" he asked with a smirk.

Charlie wrapped her arms around his neck "you can wipe that smirk off your face," she giggled "I'm pregnant so I wont be out all night I won't be drinking, no partying with your brothers or mine all night."

"Well then," Brax said and rolled off the sofa "I'll just have to take you away for the night," he said as he walked to the kitchen.

Ruby jumped as he walked into the kitchen "hey Rubes," he said and walked to the kettle "Rubes? Ruby?" he said when she didn't answer him.

"What? Oh, sorry, hey," she smiled "uh…can I talk to you for a sec?" she asked.

"Sure," he frowned "…everything okay?"

"Um…later," she said as Charlie walked into the kitchen.

A while later Brax tapped at Ruby's door and stuck his head in "can I come in?"

"Sure," she nodded and turned her chair to face him.

"You have me worried…is something wrong?" he asked and sat on her bed.

"No nothing wrong," she said quickly "well, I mean I don't know if it's going to be a problem for you."

"Rubes," he said scooting closer to her "you can talk to me about anything you know that."

"It's my dad," she finally said looking up at him.

Brax sighed heavily he had a really big problem with Ruby's dad and he'd never even met the guy, what he did know was that he let Ruby down a lot and he could count on one hand the amount of times he actually turned up "what about him?" he finally asked.

"I feel kinda guilty saying this but…he's asked me to come stay with him for a few weeks over the summer-I made him promise he was going to follow through this time," she said as he opened his mouth.

Brax nodded as much as he hated this the guy he was her dad and he had no right to keep her from him "why do you feel guilty?" he asked.

"Because you're more of a dad to me than him, you've always been there for me…I feel like I'm betraying you or something," she replied.

"Rubes," chuckled "I'm always gonna be here for you that won't change, he's your dad you have every right to see him…I just worry about him letting you down again. It's your decision."

Ruby nodded "so you're okay with me going?"

Brax nodded "as long as he actually turns up and does what he's supposed to I'm happy with it."

"Are you sure?" she asked "I've heard you talking to mum about him, I don't want you being upset with me."

Brax wrapped his arm around her "I could never be upset with you for wanting to see your dad, I only get mad and rant to your mum when I see how he's let you down or upset you. I've never met the guy and I don't think I want to but as long as he doesn't let you down again I have no problem."

Ruby sighed heavily "I don't know if I want to go, I mean he's let me down so much I can't help think it's gonna happen again."

Brax stood up "it's Miami think about all you can do…if he's promised you Rubes I'm sure he'll be here, when is he meant to collect you?"

"Next Saturday morning," she replied.

Brax nodded "is April going with you?"

Ruby nodded "you know the rule Brax," she giggled "as long as April lives here she goes where I go."

Brax chuckled and dropped a kiss on her head "then you've nothing to worry about, you'll have loads to do," he said and walked to the door.

"Thanks Brax!" she called after him.

"Don't mention it!" he called on his way down the stairs.

….

Brax walked down to the living room and leaned against the door watching Charlie as she giggled at the tv. Smiling he walked and sat beside her "babe do you mind if we stay in tonight?"

Charlie looked over at him concerned "everything okay?"

"Yep," he replied and scooted closer to her "I just had a chat with Ruby about her dad."

Charlie sighed heavily "what's he done now?"

"He told her he was coming to take her to Miami when school was finished…you didn't know?" he asked.

"No," she huffed "I'll kill him, I warned him never to promise her anything unless he was going to do it…is she okay?"

"She's fine, she was more concerned about me being mad at her," he chuckled.

"Ah," Charlie nodded.

"Ah?" Brax asked "what does that mean?"

"Ruby and I have had a conversation a few times, she wants to call you dad and didn't know how you'd feel about it. I told her to talk to you that I'm sure you'd have no problem with it," she replied. "She loves you Brax you've been around since she was a kid, you've always been there for her she doesn't want to hurt your feelings by going off with her dad if she doesn't have your go ahead."

Brax was a bit gob smacked "he's her dad she doesn't need my blessing."

Charlie leaned in and kissed him "you're her dad too."

"She really wants to cal me dad?" he asked with a smile.

"Would that be okay?" came Ruby's voice behind them.

Brax stood up and walked to her "it's more than okay," he said and pulled her into a hug "you should have told me ages ago."

Ruby wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him "sorry dad," she chuckled "I was afraid and now I know I shouldn't have been."

Brax pulled back and looked down on her "no you shouldn't have been…go track down April, we're gonna have a movie night."

Brax chuckled as she skipped out the door, he looked over as Charlie stopped beside him "you're okay with staying in?"

Charlie nodded and kissed him on the cheek before walking off to the kitchen.

Brax followed her and watched her move around with a smile "I love seeing that," he said.

"What?" she frowned.

"You, smiling," he said walking to her.

"Why wouldn't I be smiling?" she asked wrapping her arms around him "I got an amazing husband," she said and kissed him.

Brax slid his hands onto her hips and lifted her onto the counter as he deepened the kiss, pulling back he rested her forehead against hers "I hope I can always keep that smile on your face."

Charlie moved and started to nip at his neck "you're doing a great job so far," she mumbled against him.

"Charlie," he groaned and tilted his head to side "you know what that does to me."

Charlie pushed him away and jumped down "I know," she said and walked out of the room.

"Really?" he called after her wide eyed, he looked to the floor as she threw something in, seeing her shirt he chuckled and followed her grabbing her he pulled her back to him crashing his lips to hers so glad he didn't go to work today.

A/N and there you have it, first chapter, the calm before the storm. Ruby's dad and why April lives with them will be explained in the next chapter, hope you enjoyed it, see ya soon JJ.