Complications We Didn't See Coming

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Authors Note: I do NOT own Home and Away. All credit goes to the writers.

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Chapter Two: Truth.

"We are going to be late, mum!" Ruby whined as she stood impatiently by the door, her backpack jiggling as she bounced up and down. "I have to see, April. Please hurry"

Charlie went to lift her head, banging it on the shelf of the coffee table. "Oww"

Nicole turned around from her spot on the kitchen bench which she was standing on, Ruby was giggling madly as their mother rubbed her head furiously. "I found them" Nicole announced as she stretched up on her tippy toes and grabbed the keys off the shelf by the cookie jar.

"How did they…never mind. Let's go or we'll be late" Charlie muttered as she reached out her hand to help Nicole down.

Ruby rolled her eyes as she looked up at her mother who was locking the front door. "That's what I've been saying!"

"Well maybe if you helped look then we wouldn't be running late, Miss Impatient. Come on into the car"

Nicole glanced across the backseat at her sister. "Yeah! You didn't even attempt to look"

"Did too"

"Did not"

"Did too"

Charlie glanced into the backseat. "Stop it. Did you finish your homework?"

Nicole nodded proudly. "I did"

"Oh oops! I forgot"

"Ruby" Charlie exhaled as she banged her head against the steering wheel. "It's going to be a long day"

"Mum, can we go to Angelo's tonight again for dinner?"

^..^

Brax walked out of the bathroom pulling on his black shirt, his back still slightly damp from the shower not that it bothered him. He grabbed the keys to his ute as he looked over at the couch where his younger brother, Casey, sat with a box of cereal.

"Case, you ready?"

Casey looked up, his dark fringe flicking across his forehead. "Do I have to go, Brax?"

Brax exhaled, he really didn't want to have another argument, he was meant to meet up with Charlie in half an hour. "Yes"

Casey groaned as he chucked the box of cereal on the table. "I don't want to go to a new school"

"You'll like Summerbay Primary"

"No I won't, all the kids will be stuck up" Casey muttered.

Brax shook his head as he picked up the ten year olds backpack. "Come on. Let's go"

"No"

Brax turned around, glaring. "Casey, I will no argue with you. Get in the car"

Casey stared up at Brax defiantly. "I am not going to school"

"Yes, you are" Brax told him sternly, he pointed in the direction of the front door. "If you don't get in the car then I am cancelling your trip to see, Heath"

Casey's jaw dropped. "You can't do that! He's my brother too!"

Brax sighed, he knew deep down that he wouldn't cancel the trip, it had been ten months since Heath and Casey had last seen each other but he'd had the same argument last night with a lot of screaming. Brax was tired, sending Casey to a new school was meant to get him away from the bad influences of Mangrove River and provide him with an environment that would help him excel. "Come on, Case, do this for me"

Casey stood up, his glare defiant as he walked over to Brax snatching the backpack from his hand. "I hate you"

"I love ya too, mate"

^..^

Brax hurried along the balcony towards the hotel room he rented on a permanent basis, smirking when he noticed Charlie was rushing towards him from the right end of the balcony tapping on her phone furiously. "Well. Well. Well. Fancy meeting you here"

Charlie came to a holt as she heard his voice, glaring intensely. "You and I need to talk"

Brax inclined his head. "Is that a demand?"

"It's a fact" Charlie stuck her key in the door and unlocked it; grabbing him by the wrist she dragged him into the room. "You invested in Angelo's?"

Brax couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips as he shut the door and turned to see Charlie standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips. He recognised her demeanour, it was cop Charlie. "Does it bother you?"

"Yes. Yes it bothers me!"

Brax leaned against the back of the door with his arms crossed. "Why?"

"Why? Because you know the rules. No talking to my girls. No meeting them" Charlie glared as he stared at her with a smug grin. "You broke the rules"

Brax exhaled as he pulled off the door and walked towards her, taking the bag from her shoulder and chucking it to the side. He smirked at her defiant look as she clearly knew what he was about to do. "Charlie. Charlie. Charlie. You never told me I couldn't meet them, talk to them. You only told me they couldn't know about our secret" Brax whispered against her skin, he stood behind her, his lips grazing over her bare shoulder as he moved the straps of her bra and dress with his left hand.

Charlie stood ridged, not wanting to give into him. "It's the same thing" Charlie didn't want him to meet her girls, she wasn't ready.

Brax would no doubt love them because they were adorable but she wouldn't risk the outcome, her daughters were too precious. They'd been through too much in their short years for her to risk letting them in on a relationship that she wasn't sure would last.

Charlie could feel herself melting as Brax trailed kisses down the back of her neck. "Brax, this is serious"

Brax chuckled. "Relax. My domain remember? Let's get you naked and bed bound, babe. I do believe you called me an 'asshole' last night, am I correct?"

Charlie couldn't contain the small giggle that escaped her lips. "You are. I won't deny it"

Brax shook his head at her honesty as he gently pushed her in the direction of the bed. "How shall we play this? I suppose you deserved to be punished for calling me such a foul name" Brax teased.

"Oh please, my language turns you on" Charlie glanced down at Brax's rather large bulge as he guided her onto her back. "Shall we bring our friend out to play?"

Brax leaned down over her and captured her lips with his, he lightly nipped her bottom lip with his teeth in order for her open her mouth, their tongues moving together passionately as he pulled at the bottom of her dress.

Charlie pulled back from the kiss, smirking at Brax's disgruntled look, he was clearly unhappy about the loss of contact. "So…how exactly do you plan on punishing me, Mr Braxton?" Charlie mumbled with a naughty glint in her eye.

Brax grinned cheekily. "We'll Miss Buckton; I believe these will come in handy" Brax pulled two silk ties off the bedside table.

Charlie bit her bottom lip, blushing intensely. "Oh I do believe I'll enjoy this"

^..^

Leaning back on the sand Charlie couldn't help the grin that was playing on her lips, she was satisfied yet yearning to be in Brax's arms, she wanted him to hold her like he would after every encounter. She wanted to be with him yet it was her that had run away.
Charlie felt like hitting herself in her head, she loved him but didn't want a public relationship, she knew it didn't make sense.

"Geez, Charlz" Charlie glanced up at the sound of Bianca's voice; her blonde best friend was standing over her with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" Charlie lied as she stood up to join Bianca on her walk.

Bianca clearly didn't look like she believed her. "Seriously, you are trying to lie"

"You lied to me yesterday" Charlie retorted as she brushed the remaining sand from her dress.

Bianca exhaled, she knew she couldn't lie to Charlie but telling the truth bared its own troubles. "I..." Bianca paused as she took a deep breath. "Charlie, what's wrong?"

Charlie glanced out at the ocean as she came to a stop, how could she accuse her best friend of lying when that's what she'd been doing for six months. If the truth was ever going to be told then it needed to start somewhere. "God. Bi. I am seeing someone"

Bianca looked stunned. "Say what?! Charlie, are you serious?"

Charlie nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think I love him"

"Charlie! Who is it? How long have you been seeing him?"

Charlie shook her head. "I can't tell you. Bianca, it will never work between us. I seriously screwed up"

Bianca sighed. "Charlie, how do you know it will never work unless you give it a proper chance? Love is complicated to say the least but you have to be willing to give it a shot. You deserve to be happy, I know that better than anyone" Bianca wrapped an arm around Charlie's waist as she leaned on her best friends shoulder. "You gave up so much for me. You literally did something unimaginable. I need you to be happy, Charlie and I don't care who he is, if he can give you everything you have ever wanted then I will make him my new brother"

Charlie leaned heavily against Bianca as she let the words sink in. What she had done all those years ago had cost her a lot of happiness, a lot of family but it had also brought so much joy and love to her life that it hadn't mattered at the time. But looking at Brax, feeling the emotions sparking through her, she was being to wonder if Brax was the real deal, if it was time to just let herself fall.

^..^

Reviews:

SummerNightsxox: I'm glad you love it, Jaya & I must thank-you for the title!
FanFicForYou: I am glad you like this and Insanity. I will be continuing with the others!
Guest: Will Kyle be in this fanfiction? I can most definitely say yes, you'll have to wait a little for the introduction though ;)
Guest & Neena: I see you both had the same idea but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you, but I do like you're thinking.
JS: Chemistry is what I am going for, I am glad you like it.
Chax Lover: I will be continuing my other stories, I am glad you like them. When will everyone find out? Soon ;) I promise.
Guest: Can I add Kyle? Kyle will be introduced.
FrankElza: Glad you like Charlie and Brax's relationship!
Lazza77: I am rather happy to hear that you love it. I hope you'll keep reading.

Well, what are your thoughts? Read & Review?! Please.