The next morning Charlie groaned and rolled over as her alarm went off, after her call with Peter last night she couldn't sleep. Lying looking at the ceiling for a minute or two she rolled out of the bed and headed for her uniform on the nearby chair. Pulling it on and fixing her he hair she grabbed her toothbrush and make-up and pulled the door open, walking to the living room she stuck her head in to see was Brax awake when he wasn't she walked to the bathroom and washed her face before brushing her teeth and doing her make up. After that was all done she walked back to Brax's room and looked at the time sighing when it read seven ten-it had taken her ten minutes to do what normally at home took an hour. She wasn't a morning eater so breakfast was out; sitting on the bed she sighed and looked back to her phone closing her eyes she had to restrain herself from calling him.

After what felt like an hour she looked back to the clock and groaned as it read only seven twenty. "Screw it," she said and stood up, grabbing her bag she slung it over her shoulder and walked out to the living room, pulling a pen from her side pocket she grabbed paper nearby and scribbled down a quick note for Brax and tiptoed to the sofa, placing it on the coffee table she tiptoed across the living room and out the door. Since Brax picked her up last night her car was still in Angelo's car park, walking down the drive she started to walk along the street when a car pulled in.

"Hey Charlie!" she looked to see one of the guys from last night.

"Hey- Noah right?" she smiled "you're up early."

Noah chuckled "gotta make a living," he said nodding to his painting overalls "we can't all sit around…do you need a lift?" he asked.

Charlie shook her head "nah but thanks, I'm way too early for school and I have no idea where I'm even going."

Noah chuckled again "well get in and if you decided along the way I'll just pull in," he suggested.

Charlie smiled and nodded "okay," she said and climbed in. "So Noah," she said after a minute "how long have you known Brax?"

"All my life," he replied "we've been best mates from nappies, my old man and his were pretty tight back in the day."

Charlie nodded "what about his mum I'm sure you know stuff about her."

Noah shrugged "she was never really there she was always at the pub or the pokies, Brax raised those three-had to leave school and all she couldn't cope with them-didn't want to cope," he added.

Charlie nodded "so they're better off?"

"Defo," Noah nodded "not being bad here but she was a waste of space that one, Brax started working at twelve- thinking he was helping her gave her all of the money he earned thinking she'd pay bills and buy food out of it…took him a year to cop she was never gonna change. So he took over she never got a penny off him again, anything he got went on those boys and the house she just wrecked it with all her parties, man you should have seen it when Brax did it up the place was like a palace."

Charlie felt her heart sting for him he'd been through so much "I can't imagine what he must have gone through, I lost my parents when I was three I don't really remember them but what I do was all good…poor Brax," she said shaking her head.

"Ah Brax is tough he had to be- that old man beat the crap outta him the most."

"He hit them!" She shrieked horrified.

"Yeah, started with Cheryl-his mum, Brax tried to protect her and got himself beat up after a while it started on the kids, poor Case was only a week old when he threw him off the sofa onto the floor Brax talked the cops out of any suspicion saying he didn't know Casey was there and shoved the cushion onto the floor."

Charlie sighed and closed her eyes "why was he covering for him?"

"He wasn't doing it for him he was fifteen, he thought they'd all be taken and split up and he wanted the boys where he could see them-protect him."

Charlie nodded she couldn't believe what he'd been through, seeing the sign for the police station she knew where she needed to go "hey can you pull in just up here?"

"The cop shop?" Charlie nodded "you sure?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes," she giggled "I need to talk to my brother he works there."

"Oh yeah the detective," Noah nodded.

"How'd you know?" she asked.

"Brax tells me everything-but don't worry I'll never repeat it, I only said coz well obviously you know what's going on," he chuckled.

Charlie shook her head "you seem like a nice guy I'm glad Brax has someone he can trust…thanks Noah I'm sure I'll see you again," she said and climbed out.

"Yeah later, it's Monday!" he called.

"What's Monday?" she asked curiously.

"Ah we've had a movie night since we were kids- hasn't worn off yet," he chuckled "you should join us."

"Can't I'm working till ten but I'll be over after that."

"Cool see ya then Charlie!" He called as he drove away.

…..

Charlie walked towards the station as she walked through the lot she looked for Peter and Watson's cars seeing both she knew she'd be here for a while. She walked in and up to the desk to see Watson writing something "Georgie," she greeted.

"Hey," she smiled and looked up "I was gonna call you later we need to talk," she said seriously.

"What have I done…apart from the obvious?" she replied.

"No, you haven't done anything I just wanna talk about this whole living with a guy thing."

"Georgie," Charlie groaned "he's letting me stay there that's all…I only did what I did to piss Amanda off.

Watson chuckled "right, but I still wanna talk to you."

"Okay well I got time after school-well me and Hayls have to see Pete so after that."

"Or I could just pick you up at ten from work…Angelo said you were working tonight when I saw him on my way in," she added when Charlie frowned at her.

Charlie nodded "okay then um…"she trailed off.

Watson smiled "he's free and cranky," she laughed.

Charlie giggled and walked towards his office- sticking her head in she saw him with his arms on the desk his head resting on them "you know there is this thing called a bed," she said walking in and shutting the door.

Peter's head snapped up "hey," he said and stood up.

Without a word Charlie dropped her bag on the floor and crashed into him hugging him for life. Peter dropped a kiss on her forehead and hugged her back" I'm sorry," she whimpered and buried her head in his chest "I'm sorry I ran away."

"Don't be sorry Charlz, just talk to me," he said softly.

Charlie sighed and buried her head in his chest "I met this guy that's where I've been staying."

"You meet this guy and you just go home with him?" Peter asked, when she nodded he shook his head "I know I've raised you better than that Charlie did you not think about what could happen?"

"Not like that-nothing happened," she replied and pulled away from him "his life is screwed up too he's a mess just like me, so we've decided to help each other out," she said and sat down.

Peter sat on the desk "help each other how?"

"His mum took off and left him with his three younger brothers and somehow child services found out and took them away- he is eighteen but they've told him he's not fit to look after them."

"And why did they say that?"

Charlie shrugged "we haven't got that far yet- he said something about the house and the fact he works in a night club."

Peter nodded "what's wrong with the house?"

"You should see the state of that place Pete, I was totally shocked when I walked in his mum was a drunk it was horrible. Cans and bottles everywhere, cigarette butts and holes on the floor and all over the sofa and beds and the place reeked of puke. Poor Brax he's tried his best to keep up with the place but she just kept bringing people home and thrashing it again…I wanna help him," she sighed.

Peter stood up and shook his head "and you've been staying there?" Charlie nodded "what do you think you can do to help him?"

"Well he said the case worker is coming to see him today if it is just the house they're worried about I'd like to use the money mum and dad left me to help do it up."

"You want to use your money to help out a guy you barely know?" Charlie nodded again "then what happens if he does get his brothers back?"

"I'll still be living there, the next step is Ruby- she was first since it was just her but for now I know she's fine with aunt Shell for a few more days I have already applied for full custody I'm waiting for the worker to get back to me."

"So you're gonna live there regardless?"

Charlie stood up "yeah I've nowhere else to go," she said and picked up her bag "I gotta get to school."

"No you don't," Peter said and stood up "I'll write you a note we're gonna go home and talk about this properly."

"Pete I need to be in school there's nothing to talk about-you're still going… I'm only here because you control my funds."

Peter sighed "we still need to talk Charlie, I haven't seen you since I told you I was going, we still have stuff to sort out. If I'm gonna hand over money I wanna know everything, I wanna see this place, I wanna meet this guy, I wanna know you're okay," he said and walked to the door "Watson I'm taking off only contact me if it's an emergency," he said and walked out to his car.

Watson looked at Charlie "we're gonna have a talk…at home…alone…where I can't run off," she shrugged and followed him.

Over at Brax's he paced the living room looking around he sighed he had scrubbed the place but it still looked filthy. In his head he was thinking of all the things he could say like- new carpet was ordered, new beds were on the way, uniforms for the boys were ordered from the school. He hurried to the door when someone knocked, opening it he was faced with an older woman "hi," he said and pulled the door open he vaguely remembered her from the home visits his mum got every couple of weeks "uh come in," he said and walked into the living room.

"Hi Daryl I'm Olivia, I'm the case worker on your brothers case," she said and shut the door.

"How are they?" Brax asked he hadn't heard a thing since they were taken no one would tell him a thing any time he called.

Olivia placed her bag on the floor and sat down on the sofa "they're in care with a foster family at the moment, all you need to know is they're safe and being looked after- shall we move along," she said and opened her file "a few things I want to run through with you."

"Okay," Brax nodded trying to hold back his nerves.

"You work in a night club-tell me, how do you expect to care for the boys if you're working until all hours of the night?"

"I'll be changing to day shifts-it's a restaurant by day," he added "I can work while they're in school and Casey is at day care."

"That's all well and good but they didn't exactly go to school at all did they," she said opening one of her files "I have Heath's records it shows up until three months ago he arrived at school maybe once every two weeks- same goes for Kyle and there is no record of Casey ever attending any day care centre."

"That was mum you know what she was like she didn't care, and as you said I work all hours so I was still in bed when they should have been up for school," he said guiltily.

"So what has changed?" She asked looking over at him.

Brax sighed he hated questions and she just kept firing them "you said the last three months there was changes in their attendance," Olivia nodded. "Well that was down to me, I got them up, I gave them breakfast, I paid for their books and uniform. I brought them to school I made sure they were washed and cleaned and had lunches- the reason there is no record of Casey anywhere is because mum didn't pay the entrance fee that I gave her and he lost his place. When I reapplied for it they told me he'd have to wait until next September but he'll be four then so I already have his name down in Summer Bay high…where I have also put Heath and Kyle, I don't want them in Mangrove River."

Olivia nodded and wrote something down "so Daryl if you were to get the boys back what would you do about this place?" She asked looking around "it's hardly fit for kids."

Before Brax could say anything the front door opened and Charlie walked in "sorry," she said and stopped walking "I thought you'd be finished by now…I'll just come back later," she said and turned around.

"Charlie!" Brax called before she could go anywhere he looked over and smiled quickly as Olivia raised an eyebrow "this is Charlie…my girlfriend," he said not knowing what else to go with.

Charlie walked over and sat beside him "hi," she said and smiled Brax squeezed her back as a thank you.

Olivia flicked through her files "no mention of a girlfriend here," she said looking over at them.

"Oh that was me," Charlie said and sat forward "I asked him to leave me out of it I didn't want it complicating things for him his main focus are the boys."

"How long have you been seeing each other?"

"Just over four years now," Brax said quickly.

"And where did you meet?"

"On the beach," Charlie answered "we both like to surf," she said smiling at him.

Olivia wrote more stuff down "so you're still in school Charlie- may I ask how old you are?"

Charlie nodded "I finish in three weeks-I'm in year twelve and I'm eighteen next week."

Olivia nodded and stood up "so your HSE is starting soon?" Charlie nodded "alright I'm gonna take a look around then I have a few more questions," she said and walked into the kitchen.

Brax pulled Charlie back into the sofa with him "I'm sorry and thank you I didn't know what else to say," he whispered.

Charlie saw Olivia watching from the door she smiled at him and leaned into him "whatever it takes," she sad and rested her head on his shoulder.

Brax wrapped his arm around her and looked down on her "maybe you should get off to school and leave this to me."

Charlie looked up and raised an eyebrow "so you're gonna answer all the questions about your girlfriend you know the stuff you don't know?" she giggled.

Brax sighed "sorry all over the place wasn't thinking, I've screwed up I know I have," he groaned "no matter what I say she has another question for me."

"Hey," Charlie said and rubbed his arm "don't think like that okay you gotta keep positive- and she's gonna keep asking questions it's her job."

"Charlie!" Olivia called from Brax's bedroom.

"Shit, Brax, all my stuff is out, I'm sorry I forgot to put it away," she said frantically.

"Just say you live here it's okay you're my girlfriend she'll expect us to be in the same bed," he said nudging her off the sofa.

Charlie nervously walked to the bedroom "yes?" She said and walked to her.

"Is this all yours?" she asked pointing to all her clothes on the wardrobe door.

"Yeah, I moved in after boys went he was feeling really down and upset I didn't want him to be alone."

"And your parents were alright with that?"

"Um my parent passed on…they died in a car accident when I was three," she muttered.

"Oh I'm so sorry," Olivia said "so who is your guardian?"

"My eldest brother Peter," she muttered …they were screwed she knew what was coming next.

"Okay I'll finish my look around and come back to you," she smiled and walked by her into the next room.

Charlie walked back to the sofa and dropped onto it with a huff "what did she ask?" Brax asked.

"What you said, she wanted to know was all that crap mine I said yes I'd moved in when they boys went because you were down and I didn't want to leave you alone. She asked what my parents thought and I told her they were dead, she asked me who my guardian was…she's gonna wanna talk to Pete," she groaned and dropped her head on his shoulder.

Brax wrapped his arm around her "we'll worry about that later one step at a time….why aren't you at school anyway?"

"Peter told me to take the morning off so we could talk, I came back here to get changed my books for after lunch while he took care of some case or something…he wants to meet you by the way," she added.

"You shouldn't be taking time off school Charlie this year is important can't you meet him later?"

"No," she sighed "I'm covering a shift for one of the girls then my godmother wants to see me."

"Ah so you work too?" Olivia said coming up behind them.

"Yes-part-time," Charlie replied.

"And where might that be?" Olivia asked.

"Angelo's restaurant down on the beach," she replied.

"And what do you do-what hours do you work?"

Charlie bit her lip she didn't know if she'd mess things up by saying it "Well Friday and Saturday I do the lates which is six to one am closing and Sunday I do the morning shift which is eight to two and Tuesday's I do five to ten…I'm a waitress and I work in the kitchen if I'm needed."

Olivia wrote all this down and stood up "right well now Charlie is living here this changes things I need to back to my office and start up a new file and I'll need to speak to your bother Charlie and your employer and I'll need your second name and address."

Charlie groaned "it's Charlie Holden 3298 Pacific Avenue. My brother is a Detective at Yabbie Creek police station if you want to contact him there and my Boss is Angelo Rosetta you'll find him at Angelo's."

"Thank you and one more thing, any sibling's cousins anything like that?"

"Yes," she sighed she was getting a bit sick of all the questions too "I have a nineteen year old brother Jack that lives in Queensland, a sister Hayley Smith-Holden she's eighteen… oh and I have a three year old daughter Ruby!" she snapped.

"Babe," Brax said and squeezed her hand.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know you're just doing your job this is all just very stressful."

Olivia looked at Brax and frowned "you never mentioned you had a daughter Daryl."

"What?" he asked looking up at her.

"Well if her daughter is three and you've been together four years that would make you the father," Olivia said taking note.

'Shit shit shit' Charlie said to herself "like I said I told him to leave us out of it and focus on his brothers."

"So where is she now?" Olivia asked "I don't see any toys or anything in the bedroom."

"She never stayed here it was too crowed and she's up in Charlie's Aunties until she's finished with her HSE," Brax said.

"Right," Olivia said slowly and jotted it all down "I'll be back Friday at lunch time so you can be here too Charlie, and please do something with this house there is no way they will be allowed back to this," she said nodding around the room.

"We're waiting on everything new," Charlie said quickly "it's all ordered," she added.

"We'll see," Olivia said and walked out the door.

Charlie bit her lip "I'm sorry Brax I totally screwed that up I'm so sorry," she cried.

"Hey relax I shouldn't have asked you to lie for me," he said and pulled her into a hug.

"No," she said and pulled back "we said we'd help each other out and that's what were gonna do."

Standing up she hurried into the room and changed her books. Walking back to the sofa she stopped in front of him "we may as well get this out of the way…come see my brother with me?"

"I don't know Charlie you got your own stuff with him going on, maybe you should go-I'll come with you tomorrow, now I really think you need to talk to him alone."

Charlie nodded and kissed him on the cheek "okay…and if you don't hear from me I've killed him," she giggled and stood up "bye!" She called and ran out the door.

Over at her house Peter was walking from room to room looking at all the boxes ready to go he sighed he really didn't wanna go, he didn't want to leave the girls or this house but he had his own life and it was time to move on. Charlie and Hayley were adults now they both had jobs and they had each other they'd be just fine. Hearing the front door close he walked back down "I was about to send out a search party," he chuckled "oh hi," he said when he was faced with a stunned Amanda and some guy he'd never seen before.

"Hey," she smiled and looked around nervously "what are you doing home?" she asked.

"I'm waiting for Charlie finally got her to talk," he answered.

Amanda nodded "that's great, sorry, this is Mike we're having a meeting about the site for the apartment buildings I just forgot my notes."

"Alright I won't keep ya," he said and walked back up the stairs. His detective skills were telling him something wasn't right here she looked a bit nervous shaking his head he went into his room.

Downstairs Amanda stood in the hall with Mike "sorry I didn't think he'd be home…he never is," she muttered.

"Just hurry up so we can get out of here and go somewhere else," he hissed.

He moved when the door opened and Charlie walked in, she shut the door and looked from Amanda to Mike "what's going on here?"

"Nothing we're running late for a meeting we were just leaving," Amanda said and nudged Mike forward.

"I don't think so," Charlie said blocking the door looking at Mike "I know you why do I know you?"

"Must have me mixed up with someone else," he smiled.

"No that's not it," Charlie said slowly, suddenly it dawned on her "the hotel… you absolute bitch!" She yelled "you'd bring him here! You'd sleep with him in the bed you share with my brother!" She yelled and shoved her "what the hell is wrong with you?" she screamed and dived on her.

"Charlie!" Peter yelled running down the stairs "what are you doing- get off her!" he yelled and dragged her up.

"You are dead!" she screamed and struggled against Peter "he's too good for you! You're nothing but a skank!"

"Charlie!" Peter yelled and tightened his grip on her "calm down- Amanda maybe you should take off," he said when Charlie kept fighting him.

"I think that's a good idea," Mike said and pulled the door open and hurried outside.

Amanda glared at Charlie "you'd wanna grow up Charlie I am allowed to talk to other men!" She snapped "and Peter I want her out of here by the time I come home."

"This is my house not yours!" Charlie screamed "I'm not going anywhere!"

As soon as the door closed Peter let go of her "that was out of order Charlie!" he snapped "what has gotten into you?"

"Geez Pete open your eyes she's cheating on you!" she yelled.

"No she is not that guy was here for a meeting," he said and walked to the kitchen.

"She's lying I've seen him before she's cheating Pete," she said and sat at the table.

Peter shook his head "we're not having this conversation," he said placing two cups on the table and sitting down "what took you so long to get here?"

"Oh the case worker was still there when I got back she wanted to ask me a few questions…she wants to talk to you too," she said nervously.

"Me?" he frowned "why does she wanna talk to me?"

Charlie sighed and leaned forward "because Brax panicked when I walked in and said I was his girlfriend and she saw all my stuff in his bedroom, she asked me questions about how my parents felt about it and I told her I only had you."

"Charlie," Peter sighed "you can't lie to her."

"That's not all…I kinda snapped and mentioned Ruby, she assumed Brax was her dad," she said biting her lip.

Peter sighed again and stood up "you gotta set her straight Charlie, she'll easily get her hands on Ruby's file all she has to do is type in your name…she'll know what really happened."

"I know, we just panicked Brax is under so much pressure…I thought it would help if she thought I was sticking around," she muttered.

"Charlie," Peter said "I know you wanna help this guy but you'll be in a lot of trouble here if she finds out on her own, tell her the truth it'll be better for him and you."

"How can I tell her the truth now?"

"So you'd risk everything over a lie?" Peter asked "he might lose his brothers altogether- you'll lose Ruby, you'll both be deemed unfit do you want that?"

"No!" she yelled "I want my daughter back, this all your fault anyway, you took her away from me. She was happy she was looked after she had everything she needed!"

"That's because we were here to help out Charlie, I'm not going to be here anymore what will you do when you have to work or go to school?"

"Hayls and the girls will help out and I'm sure Irene wouldn't mind taking her until I finished school or Leah's mum they love Ruby."

"Charlie, Irene and Kate run the diner, the girls all have part time jobs too you can't expect them to be free all the time."

"It's the same as you being in work Pete I've managed and Angelo understood he put me and Hayls on separate shifts so she could mind her while I work he'll do it again."

Peter shook his head she was determined "so what else did the case worker say?"

"That he had to clean up the house, she's arranged another meeting for Friday afternoon so I can be there."

"So you'll still be wanting that money?" Charlie nodded "how much?" She asked.

"I don't know maybe five would do the lot, I have to talk to Brax I don't know if he has savings or whatever."

"Five grand?" Peter asked "why do you need that much?"

"Because new floors paint and everything else is not cheap, Pete the whole house needs to be done floors ceilings furniture everything."

"Is it really that bad?" Peter asked.

Charlie nodded "you remember you brought that kid home for a few nights until they found a place for him to stay…Kane I think his name was," Peter nodded "you remember me him Jack and Hayls snuck out one night to go back to the house for his stuff?" Peter nodded again "well remember the state of that house….Brax's is ten times worse than that."

"Right," Peter said "you're not getting anything until I talk to Brax and see this house, you don't even know him Charlie he could be taking advantage- he knows you have money he could be using you."

Charlie shook her head "he doesn't know I have anything, I never told him, I'm not stupid… meet me after work and I'll bring you over- but please Pete, be nice, don't flip and don't interrogate him."

Peter nodded "I'll look into the money, you get to school I'll see you and Hayls back here at three thirty," he said handing her a note "that'll cover you go on," he said and dropped their cups into the sink.

"What will you say if the worker calls you?" Charlie said as she followed him.

"Nothing, because you'll be telling her the truth…go on," he said and climbed into his car.

…

Over at Brax's he stood in the doorway of his mum's room his anger was boiling over, how could he be so stupid? Why the hell did he drag her into this? Now he had to play along and say he had a daughter, that'll look great trying to win his brothers back when his own daughter wasn't even here. Punching the wall he walked into the room with the bags he had and opened the wardrobe. Grabbing a load of hangers he dumped them into the bag and moved onto the rest, once he'd that done he went to the floor of the wardrobe and pulled out two boxes. Going through them he separated the junk from stuff he might need and tossed the rest, dragging the full bags out back he dumped them beside the bins and went back to the room with more bags.

Stopping at her dresser he just ran his hand along the top knocking everything into the bag. Opening the top drawer he started to pull everything out and dump it-his eyes fell on his grandmother's jewellery box. Picking it up he placed it on the top and continued to dump the rest. After he'd that done he dragged the dresser and other furniture out back -he'd worry about getting rid of that later. All he had left to do in that room was to pull up the carpet…and wait for Noah to help him move the piano, part of him wanted to leave it there for Charlie but the other part wanted all traces of his mother gone.

Grabbing a beer he dropped onto the sofa with a sigh his life couldn't get any worse, opening the laptop he went to his bank account and sighed, after paying all the bills and debts his mum owed so he'd be left alone he'd nothing left- he went from having almost two grand to two hundred in a matter of days. Slamming the laptop closed he heard a crack- knowing he'd broken it he picked it up and hurled it across the room. Standing up he hurled his beer at the wall, screaming out of frustration he flipped the coffee table and started to kick it…finally breaking down he dropped to his knees and the tears finally came.

School broke for lunch Charlie waited at the door for her friends "hey," she greeted when the three appeared.

"Hey, where were you this morning you missed double woodwork," Bianca said.

"Yeah we got an assignment in Geography I'm your partner," Leah added.

Charlie giggled "I know Miles had already informed me and Pete wanted to talk to me that's why I'm late."

"So you two have stopped arguing?" Hayley asked as they walked towards her car.

"Nope and we're not gonna until he stops this moving nonsense," she muttered.

"Look Charlie I've come to accept there's nothing we can do don't you think it's about time you did the same?" Hayley asked softly. She had lost her father when she was four and Peter had been named her legal guardian, her father was a cop and also Peter's best mate and partner- her mum had passed on the day she had her due to complications, so she was moved in with them and now they were her family they were all she had.

"I would if she really loved him and I knew he'd be happy, but she doesn't and he won't be… you know she was there with some guy when I arrived- one of the blokes you showed me the picture of," she said turning to Bianca "she had the cheek to bring him to my house-to my bothers house!" she snapped.

"So why don't you tell him?" Leah asked "that'll put a stop to him going anywhere and get rid of the witch once and for all."

"I was going to I thought about it but then I thought about how much it would hurt him-it'd break his heart, he's so in love with her," Charlie sighed "I can't do that to him."

"Well you're running out of options I said from the start he should know it's not fair on him- sure he'll be hurt but then he'll see her for what she really is," Hayley said.

"Or you could always call Jack," Bianca suggested.

"No I can't do that he'll flip the lid altogether," Charlie replied.

"Charlie he's not far away you know as well as the rest of us he'll be straight home, it's not fair Peter asked you not to tell him he's our brother too," Hayley said s they pulled into the diner lot.

"I agree I think you should call him it's his home too Charlie, he won't let this go without a fight," Leah said and rubbed her back "call him," she said and walked into the diner behind Bianca.

Charlie sighed and looked at Hayley "are we really doing this?"

"It's up to you Charlie I want him here I think we need him, Pete has no right selling that house it was left to all three of you."

"Yeah but not until we're twenty one we get a say which neither of us are," she muttered.

"So call him anyway he'll come home and talk some sense into the idiot," Hayley said and walked inside.

Charlie pulled out her phone and pulled up Jack's number all hell would break loose if he came back…but she had no choice, pressing call she put it to her ear as it rang "hey," she drawled.

"Hey lil sis how's it going?" Jack asked.

Charlie bit her lip she was tempted to back out "uh not so good," she said slowly.

Jack chuckled "some guy is it?"

"No," she sighed "it's Pete."

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah he's fine…he's just doing something stupid," Charlie replied.

"Okay, what is it?"

"He's been offered a job in the city."

"Has he taken it?" Jack asked.

"Yeah," Charlie replied "Amanda's got herself a job too."

"She still around?" Jack asked with hatred in his voice.

"Unfortunately," Charlie groaned "so anyway he's moving soon-like in the next week or two."

"So where does that leave you and Hayls?" he asked.

"That's why I'm calling…he's selling the house Jack!" she cried.

"What!" Jack yelled horrified "he can't do that!"

"He can- we're not twenty-one we have no say…what can we do?"

"Over my dead body he'll sell that house!" Jack hissed "that is all three of ours it was mum and dads how can he even think about selling it-where the hell are you supposed to go- what about Ruby?"

Charlie's eyes welled at the mention of Ruby "he called child services- they took her away from me!" she whimpered.

"I don't believe this!" Jack yelled "I'll kill him when I get my hands on him…I'll be home as soon as I can, don't worry Charlz I'll fix this I'll get Rubes back," he said and hung up.

Charlie sighed she knew what was gonna happen once he arrived, putting her phone in her bag she walked into the diner to join the girls, it was done now no going back.

….

After school Charlie and Hayley slowly walked to her car "so what do you think is going to happen?" Hayley asked as they climbed in.

Charlie shrugged "he's gonna say anything to make himself feel better about leaving us," she said and started up the car "let's get this over with then go to work," she said and pulled away.

As they drove Hayley chuckled "forgot we had karaoke night tonight," she said as they passed a sign.

Charlie groaned "I hope he doesn't ask me to start off again that was so embarrassing."

"Aww come on Charlz you're a brilliant singer," Hayley said as the pulled into the house "he asked you because he knew you'd get them going."

"Yeah well I think we've enough going on to worry about what we're gonna sing don't you?" she asked.

Hayley sighed and looked at the house "I was gonna ask could I move back in."

Charlie turned to her "why- I thought you loved living on your own."

"I do-did, I just miss you two… and that new guy next door is a creep," she sighed again "doesn't matter now," she said and climbed out.

Charlie climbed out and followed her "is he still leaning over the balcony?"

Hayley turned around as she got to the door "let's not worry about that now," she smiled quickly and pushed the door open.

They both walked into the kitchen to see Peter sitting at the table "hey," he greeted and smiled.

They both sat down and looked at him "so," Charlie said after a minute "you said you wanted to talk so talk."

Peter sighed and sat back in the chair he looked from one to the other "what's your problem with me going why do you not want me to?"

Charlie scoffed "you leaving is the problem Pete why do you think we don't want you to go?"

Peter leaned forward "you're adults now you have your own lives."

Hayley scoffed "doesn't mean we don't want you around we still need you here Pete."

Peter blew out a breath "it's only Melbourne I can come visit and you can do the same, look girls you're adults now you have your own stuff going on you'll be fine."

"Pete you've been here our whole lives everything we have is because of you," Charlie said and stood up "Jack already left I don't wanna lose you too," she whimpered.

"Charlie," Hayley said knowing she was about to bolt.

"No!" she yelled "he's leaving us, he's leaving us for some girl he's known what two years?" She yelled.

"Charlie I love Amanda and she loves me we're moving on together," Peter said and stood up "we're going to start again away from here."

"Without us," Hayley added.

Peter looked at her and back to Charlie before he could say anything Charlie laughed bitterly "she doesn't love you she's using you."

Charlie Peter sighed "I don't know why you hate Amanda so much but she does love me and I love her."

Charlie pulled out her phone and pulled up the pictures Bianca had sent her, she slammed the phone down on the table "look at these then tell me she loves you," she said and stormed out of the house.

Peter picked up the phone and looked at the photo his face dropped, shaking his head he flicked through them and sunk back into his seat.

"Pete?" Hayley said cautiously she had a feeling she knew what Charlie had showed him.

Peter looked up at her "did you know about these?" he asked sliding the phone over to her.

Hayley picked up the phone and flicked through them she couldn't believe Charlie had done it "um yeah," she said slowly "Charlie left work after she got the photos, she came home to tell you but Amanda was already here then when she heard you talking she took off."

Peter nodded "she showed up here with one of the guys today saying she'd forgotten notes for a meeting," he sighed and stood up again "what an idiot I've been how did I not see this coming."

It's not your fault Pete Hayley said and stood up and walked to him "she took advantage of you coz she knew you loved her, she's to blame in all this not you she's just a scheming cow."

Peter pulled away from her and grabbed his keys "I'll drop you off at home there's something I need to do," he said and walked out the door.

"Damn it Charlie," Hayley said and ran after him.

….

Back at Brax's Charlie jumped out of the car wiping her face hurrying inside she closed the door and leaned against it throwing her hands over her face she let out a sob she didn't want it to come out like that she just lost the plot and snapped she could only imagine the look on his face.

Brax who was in his room getting ready for work stopped and frowned at the noise, walking to the hallway he saw Charlie leaning against the door with her hands over her face "you okay?" he asked.

Charlie took her hands away and looked over at him "no," she whimpered and wiped her face.

Brax walked over to her and pulled her into a hug she clung onto him and burst out crying "Charlie what happened?" he asked.

Charlie pulled away from him and wiped her face "my brother's girlfriend is cheating on him with two different blokes, Bianca works at the Reefton arms hotel she saw her a few times with these guys and sent me pictures."

She sighed and walked to the sofa "Hayls and I had to go talk to him after school he kept going on about him loving her and her loving him I just snapped and slammed my phone down and can't remember what I said but I left the phone and took off."

Brax sat beside her "so he knows now?"

Charlie bit her lip and nodded "he'll never speak to me again he must be so crushed- god I'm such an idiot, why did I let my temper get the better of me- I know I hate her and she deserves it but Pete doesn't- he didn't deserve this at all he loves her."

"Hey don't take the blame alright," Brax said wrapping his arm around her "it's her fault she's the one that screwed it up not you, he's your brother you should have told him right away."

"I was going to- left work and all when Bianca sent me the pictures, when I got home she was already there and I heard them talking so I took off."

Brax nodded "but he knows now maybe he won't go now."

Charlie scoffed "she'll talk her way out of it she always does…sorry go on I know you've to go to work."

"I can stay off if you want me to stay here with you," he said.

"No don't be silly I'll be fine…I kinda left Hayley there so I'm gonna go see her before we head to work- seriously I'm fine but thank you anyway," she smiled and stood up "go on you'll be late."

As Brax stood up his phone rang he frowned at the unknown number "hello?"

"Is this Brax?" a male voice asked.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"Peter, I'm Charlie's brother, I got your number out of her phone…is she there?"

"Yeah she's here," Brax said looking at her.

"Is she okay?" Peter asked.

"She's a bit upset about the whole thing."

Peter sighed "will you put her on?"

"Charlie," Brax said holding the phone out "it's your brother."

Charlie took the phone from him "Peter I'm so sorry I just got angry I shouldn't have showed you them."

"Hey calm down," he chuckled "I wanna talk to you… meet me at Angelo's before you start?"

"Okay," Charlie replied "I'll see you there then and again I'm sorry," she said and hung up "he sounds so upset why the hell did I open my mouth!" she yelled.

"Charlie he had a right to know-would you rather he moved away with her?"

"No she grumbled "I could have done it a better way, anyway you get off," she said handing back his phone.

….

Over at his house Peter was going around grabbing anything he could see belonged to Amanda, he knew something wasn't right with her the way she suddenly had to slip off for a late meeting or she wasn't coming home because she was too far out to make it back. Throwing the bag on the floor he dropped onto the bed with a heavy sigh there was no way he was going anywhere now-but she would be.

Pulling out his phone he called his aunt "hey Shell," he greeted "how's Rubes?"

"Crying for mummy looking for Layley," she chuckled.

Peter chuckled too "I know this is out of the blue but I'm not moving now Amanda and I are over."

"What! Pete what happened you were so excited about this," Michelle replied.

Peter sighed "lets' just say she's done something we can never come back from… I'm about to head down to child services if I get the all clear I'll drive up and collect her today."

"Okay, how's Charlie and Hayley?" Michelle asked.

"They're upset Charlie more than Hayley they both miss her. Charlie ran away and moved out she told me she hated me, so hopefully once Ruby is home we can get back to normal. I know she hates me for sending her up to you I was just trying to do the right thing by them all," Peter said.

"Peter," Michelle said I know you were trying to do what was best I know how hard you've all had it but I never agreed with what you've done, and I didn't contact Charlie like you asked me not to I took her in so she wouldn't end up with some strangers somewhere she should be with her mother."

"I know but with Charlie being in school and working I was worried about what would happen once I left, now I think about it I never should have done it she should be here with her family I regret it so much."

"You can put it right now," Michelle said "let me know what's happening I'll start getting her stuff ready in the meantime."

"Thank Shell and thanks for everything you've done I couldn't have done it without you I know I kinda dropped you in it."

"Don't worry about that I don't work she was fine here, that's what family is for… go on get your butt down there and call me later," she said and hung up.

Peter put the phone down and looked to the photo on his dresser, it was of him Charlie Jack Hayley and Ruby at her christening they looked so happy. Beside that the picture of a younger Jack Charlie and Hayley splashing about in the water made him chuckle, they sure grew up fast. Standing up he walked out the door and down the stairs in some way he was grateful to Charlie she had opened his eyes.