Hey so I know in this story and in Love or Lust, Charlie is pregnant in both, it just kinda worked out like that so sorry if anyone is confused, *looks towards Spotty's direction*. And anyone who reads this story, I know most readers have seen my new story, but if you haven't check please check it out, it's called Saudade – a love that remains. And I have just uploaded another chapter for it.
Chapter 3
Nine weeks later – 12 week scan
Charlie's P.O.V
''so everything okay'' Brax asked as Sid manoeuvred the transducer around my stomach trying to get a clearer picture,
''Yes so far so good'' Sid replied,
I just left them too it whilst I watched the screen, that was my baby, I was more in love with this collection of cells than I had ever been in love, even more than I was in love with Brax and that was saying something.
''guys so all done, would you like a DVD to accompany the print'' Sid asked,
''yes please and could we get a few extra prints please Doc if that's not too much to ask'' Brax replied, I looked over at Brax giving him a funny look
''Extra prints'' I raised my eyes at him as I cleaned the viscous gel off my body, making a mess of it as I went.
''Yes extra prints, it is a perfectly normal request''
''Really normal, we are already getting two and a DVD''
''Yeah well Ruby might want one, or Bianca, or maybe even Heath so...'' he trailed off clearly trying to hide something,
''Really Brax, really, Heath wanting a scan of the baby, yep I see that happening'' I mocked
''Fine, I want extra prints for me'' he said as he looked around the room and not at me, I could see he was a little embarrassed
''why?''
''in case we lose one, I am not taking any chances'' I let out a little chuckle, and looked at Brax as he looked at the ground and did his scuffing one foot on the floor in a nervous mode. I pulled my top down and then walked over to Brax, looping my arms around his neck, I kissed his cheek,
''you Mr Braxton are adorable'' he looked up at me and displayed that cheeky smile, dimples and all.
''I like adorable, that's perfect for the ego you know'' he mocked as he caressed his thumb down my cheek before letting his lips meet mine, getting slightly lost in the moment, like nothing existed, me, my soul mate and our baby who was currently wrapped in a bubble too precious and fragile to be with us right now. We just had to wait and then the two of us would be complete. There would be nothing left; we would be where we are meant to be, and all we had to have was a little patience.
-x-
''Hey what you doing up so late'' I asked Brax as I rubbed my eyes trying to eliminate the sleep that was still present in my eyelids,
''nothing babe, you go back to sleep'' he told me his gaze still upon the laptop in front of him, I could see the concentration on his face, I got up off the bed and made my way to him, peering over his shoulder I could see the many tabs opened on the top and the page that he was viewing had a picture of a man, with a baby in his arms and the heading read first time fathers, what to expect?
''Brax what are you doing?'' I startled him as he jumped a little,
''Nothing, you go back to bed'' he told me this time closing the laptop screen,
''only if you come back with me'' I told him taking his hand, he looked at the screen and then at me contemplating whether he should or shouldn't.
''I will, you get back in and I will just shut this down and join you'' he told me, instead of arguing I got back into bed.
Tossing, turning and a lot of deep sighs later I was out of bed again and went over to see Brax still tapping away at the keypad, I looked over his shoulder and this time a different heading, I skim read the article,
Hormones are in overdrive... some women will suffer morning sickness, others will get the nauseous feeling... weight gain depends on each women... cravings for certain foods... women might tend to develop odd tastes and dislikes...
''sorry Babe, I got sidetracked'' this time I got startled with Brax speaking to me,
''why are you reading all this stuff?'' I asked not acknowledging what he just said,
''couldn't sleep'' he told me and I could tell he was lying,
''Brax, come on this is the third night in a row since we have come back from the scan that you have spent in front of this darn laptop'' I scolded him a little angrier than intended.
He shrugged his shoulders, and got out of the chair, took of his shorts, removed his top, on a normal day this would have distracted me but today I wanted to know what he was doing. I looked and he still had socks on. He walked towards me, took my hands and walked towards the bed, both of us settling in between the sheets, he turned me over and spooned me from the back,
''don't stress baby'' he whispered in my ears, I took his hand and placed a gentle kiss,
''I don't want to be a rubbish dad so I just want to make sure I am well trained beforehand'' he told me in his husky voice. He was so caring, considerate and most of all he was a worrier,
''Brax you are going to be the most perfect dad'' I turned to look at him, I could see the unsure look on his face, ''you are amazing with Ruby''
''yeah but Ruby is not a new baby, how will I change him, bathe him, put him to sleep'' he asked, sometime Brax could be so cute, who would have thought the leader of the notorious River boys, scared of nothing persona would be stressing over a baby.
I let out a little chuckle,
''Daryl you are so cute'' I pinched at his cheeks,
''cute, really Charlie out of all the describing words you chose cute''
He placed his hands on my bump which was coming along nicely; I put my hands over his,
''Brax all this comes naturally, once the baby is born you will automatically know what to do'' I told him trying to reassure him that all would be okay,
''are you sure''
''100%'' I told him and leaned in for a kiss, ''and since when did you decide it was going to be a boy'' I asked him, from our previous conversations he insisted it was going to be a girl but tonight he said boy.
''I have a feeling'' he smiled his cheeky smile before letting me settle on his chest, he wrapped his arms around me. He shuffled slightly and I felt something rub against my feet,
''Brax''
He didn't say anything but I heard a mumble,
''socks''
-x-
''coffee please Irene'' I asked as I waited in the diner for Bianca,
''make that a decaf, or even better give her a juice'' I heard someone from behind, I turned to look around to see Heath stood there, board shorts and a wet torso,
''come on, I have not had a proper cup of coffee since ages''
''tough, decaf or nothing, I want a healthy nephew or niece you know'' he said as he tried to touch my bump, I slapped his hand away, it made me cringe having someone other than Brax touch me, I couldn't sit with anyone without wanting to physically go scrub myself clean. It was my weird hormones in overdrive.
''so why are you out so early'' he asked as I made my way over to a table, with my coffee, decaf obviously and a muffin,
''just meeting with Bianca before she goes into work''
''oh okay, well you enjoy, I'm off into work and please stick with the decaf stuff, if not I will have to get Colleen onto you'' he kissed my cheek and left just as Bianca walked in.
''Hey'' she greeted in her over cheery smile,
We sat and talked a while before Irene bought her a coffee over,
''please B could I have a sip, just a small one'' I pleaded with her,
''nope, Mr Braxton a.k.a your husband to be has given me and everyone else that you might interact with strict instructions and to be fair he can be very scary when he wants to be missy''
''I hate him,'' I sighed,
''nah you don't really and we all know Miss Buckton you love his protective side'' Bianca replied whilst I just acknowledged her words with a smile.
-x-
After dinner that evening under the strict instructions of the bubs uncles and father, me and Ruby settled in front of the T.V to watch a film whilst the boys attempted to wash the dishes like grownups.
The movie of choice was My Sisters Keeper. I watched attentively as this young girl tried to understand what was happening whilst another went through cancer, I watched as the children's mother tried to protect her ill child, wrap her in cotton wool, a brother trying to hold it together and a father trying to keep the normality. I had watched the film countless times before, but for some reason today was different there was a different meaning, it was like there was a shield creating itself within me, a way of me saying I will do anything to protect my child. This was love at a different level, I know I had a child already, I had Ruby but my story with Ruby was different, there were situations that I couldn't control, I admit I love her today but I didn't feel any of what I'm feeling now with this baby that I felt with Ruby. b
-x-
Week 26
Brax and I sat at the hospital waiting for the Dr to come, I was well along the pregnancy now and couldn't wait to see a scan of the baby again, it didn't take long for Sid to arrive and like at my twelve week scan I watched the screen, at my baby, it was more than just a bunch of cells now, there was visible features, I could make out hands and feet, but I daren't concentrate too much in case I figured out if it was a boy or a girl. I felt someone squeeze my hand tightly and looked over to see that Brax's face displayed what I was feeling, he had the biggest smile on his face that I had ever seen.
''so guys that's all done, I will just go get the prints and I will speak to you guys when I come back''
Just as Sid left the room, Brax's phone rang, removing his hand from mine and answering the phone I watched as his face changed and he just replied
''I'll be there as soon as''
''everything okay'' I asked as he came to sit near me again,
''yeah just a mess up at the restaurant''
''you can go''
''no I don't want to miss this''
''Come on Brax we have already have had the scan, and I can talk to Sid''
''are you sure?''
''yes now leave will you'' I pushed him gently before he moved forward and left a kiss on my cheek,
''thank you and I love you, see ya later babe and bub'' he called as he left the room.
Not long after Sid returned and instantly I picked up on the change on his face,
''Charlie I need to speak to you and Brax urgently''
''Brax has left, what's wrong Sid, is everything okay'' I asked worry etched in my voice and on my face.
''I think Brax might want to be here to hear this Charlie, do you want to call him back''
I contemplated the idea and for some reason my gut told me not to, it was such a strong force within me telling me not to bring him back and instead just ask Sid to tell me.
It took my everything to come to this decision, whatever Sid wanted to talk about I'm sure it would be fine,
''no I rather you just tell me''
''very well, do you want to follow me to my office''
-x-
My heart hitched in my throat, my mouth was dry, and I could feel the tears brimming in my eyes, my hands and feet felt suddenly clammy but cold. I noticed the glass of water that a nurse momentarily popped on the desk in front of me, I hadn't even realised how thirsty I felt, I grabbed the glass, my hand slightly trembling before taking a sip, well I say sip but half the glass was empty by the time I came back for a breath. I gulped the remaining which was a bad idea; my stomach now was making me feel sick with so much liquid in such a short span of time. I could feel the nurse and Sid both looking at me and all I could think about was the words Sid had spoken,
How could it be? That was all I was thinking, what was I going to do? How was I going to tell Brax, what was I going to do? I regretted not calling him back now because the news Sid delivered I never thought I would hear them words ever.
''Charlie, do you understand what I'm saying, and the options that you have?'' Sid spoke with solemn; I could hear the pity in his voice.
I just nodded my head and then I don't know what happened, it was like autopilot and I was at home now sat on the couch, wiping a stray tear of my cheek, I rubbed my belly lightly. There was a life inside me, it was a person made with love, compassion and it was a pure life. I could feel my tears flowing faster now and I just wanted to feel Brax's arms engulf my body; I wanted his body to frame my tiny one, make me feel nothing and assure me everything will be okay.
I knew what I needed to do, I needed to go speak to him, I needed to tell him what the Dr said and then we both could discuss the options that we have.
I got off the couch and made my way to our bedroom, as soon as I entered I noticed a dress on the bed and a note on top, moving towards the bed and picking up the note, I read what it said,
Yummy mummy, dinner in Angelo's with the fam, see you at six, lots of love daddy to be!
A simple note, that is all it took, and for some reason in my heart I knew what the decision was, I didn't need to discuss anything with Brax, everything was going to be okay. Hopefully.
I, he, our baby would get through this...
-x-
I know guys it's moving real fast but I just want to get this story to where it needs to be, it might seem a little confusing but only a few more chapter and it will all be made clear. I am really intrigued to see if anyone knows where I am going with this... ooh and there are certain things that might seem pointless in this chapter but trust me they have a significant part to play.
