This chapter is based around a song called Stay With Me by Danity Kane. The idea was given to me by Nikayla so a big thank you goes to her.

Raindrops, Fall From, Everywhere
I Reach Out, For You, But Your Not There
So I Stood, Waiting, In The Dark
With Your Picture, In My Hands
Story Of a Broken Heart

"I'm sorry Mr Braxton it's like I explained before. The police acted appropriately. I'm afraid there is nothing that can be done legally" Brax's lawyer explained for what felt like the thousandth time that morning.

"What so you're telling me my wife gets stabbed and then shot while the police are present and there is nothing you can do?" Brax yelled furiously.

"Wait, did you say stabbed and then shot?" The lawyer interrupted, Brax had failed to mention this earlier.

"Yeah, he stabbed her with a syringe first and then said something to me about cheating and lying, then he shot her" Brax explained.

"What did the police do after he stabbed her?" The lawyer wondered

"Nothing, they waited until he pulled the trigger, why?" Brax asked his Lawyer.

"I believe we may have a case "

"Finally" Brax replied he was relieved someone was now actually listening.

x-x-x-x

Brax threw his car keys on the table as he walked into the lounge. The house was empty, the boys were at school, it was the first time since Nadine's death that Brax had been back to his own house. The house he shared with his wife and children.

The silence that filled the house was deafening and Brax was surrounded by memories of Nadine. Above the fireplace in the lounge was a huge canvas picture of Nadine, Brax and the three boys. Even the little things like the candles on the fireplace and the cushions reminded him of her. Brax traced the wall of the hall way with his fingertips as he made his way into the bedroom.

I've searched my heart over
So many many times
No you and I, is like no stars to light the sky at night
Our Picture Hangs Up To
Remind Me Of The Days
You Promised Me We'd Always
And Never Go Away

The familiar smell of Nadine's perfume hit him as he opened the door, as he walked further into the room he noticed her underwear draped over the back of a small chair.

Brax smiled a little as he remembered how they got there.

Flashback

"Brax we can't" Nadine giggled as she felt Brax's hands move down her waist and over her stomach toward her thighs. Brax was hugging her from behind. He gently kissed her neck before turning her round.

"Baby we'll miss our appointment" Nadine giggled as she felt Brax unzipping her dress. He was now stood in front of her in just a pair of shorts.

"When do we ever get times alone like this, the boys are at school and our appointment isn't for another half hour" Brax whispered seductively in between kisses. He gently slid Nadine's dress off her shoulders and let in drop to the floor.

Nadine had given up trying to protest to this, she realised she wanted it just as much as he did. Nadine reached up around Brax's neck and kissed him passionately, she giggled a little as Brax picked her up off the floor and carried her to the bed.

As the pair got lost in the moment Brax delicately removed Nadine's underwear and threw it on the chair.

End of Flashback

The smell of Nadine's perfume broke Brax's thoughts; he slumped back onto the bed as he thought about his beautiful wife, the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. The woman who had given him three beautiful boys and what could have been a girl.

-x-x-x-x

Stay With Me
Don't let Me go
Cause I Can't Be Without You
Just Stay With Me
And Hold Me Close
Because I've Built My World Around You
And I Don't Wanna Know What's it Like Without You
So Stay with Me
Just Stay With Me

Brax couldn't stand to be in that room a second longer the smell of Nadine's perfume was suffocating him. Brax staggered down the hall and towards the kitchen he reached into the cupboard and pulled out as bottle of whiskey and a glass, before sitting on the sofa.

The sound of the golden liquid hitting the sides of the glass was the only thing Brax could hear now; he was oblivious to the phone ringing on the wall behind him. He quickly necked the whiskey in his glass before continuing to pour another and then another.

Brax jumped as he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket he took it out and the light on the screen flashed up a picture of Nadine and the boys. Brax was under the influence of alcohol and seeing Nadine's picture caused him to react; he threw the phone at the wall furiously and watched it smash across the floor, he hadn't even seen who was calling and right now he didn't care. The only thing he did care about was finding his way to the bottom of that bottle sitting in front of him.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Cheryl had only just walked though the front door when the house phone started ringing "Hello" she gasped as she tripped over about 4 shopping bags trying to answer it.

"Hi Mrs Braxton its Olivia West the principal from Mangrove Primary School" a chirpy female voice said.

"Oh hello" Cheryl was a little shocked as to why she had received a phone call from this woman.

"Er…I was wondering if you could come and collect Harley, no-one has been to collect him and he is starting to get a little upset" the woman explained.

"What?" Cheryl thought Brax was meant to be collecting the kids from school "Erm…yeah I'll come now, thank you"

Cheryl quickly rushed out of the door and to the school to fetch Harley.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Nadine was laughing as she watched Brax try and assemble two cots, he was failing miserably and refusing to let her help him.

"Why is it I can break down and rebuild any type of car or trail bike, but I can't put together a cot" Brax frowned as he continued to try and build the cot "And of course we had to have twins so I couldn't just do this once"

Nadine couldn't control her laughing by this point "It's not funny" Brax snapped.

"No babe I know its not I'm sorry" Nadine giggled "I don't know what you are worrying about we have 3 months left yet"

"I know I just want to get everything perfect" Brax sighed as he put the screwdriver on the floor in front of him, he rested both hands on Nadine's stomach "You and our babies mean the world to me I just want to take care of you properly" Brax smiled as he moved forwards and kissed Nadine. As Nadine looked behind Brax she noticed a shadow at the window, it was a man pointing a gun at them.

"Brax look out" Nadine squealed before moving Brax out of the way, suddenly a gunshot fired and Nadine landed on the floor with a thud

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Brax's head shot up quickly as he heard the gun shot. It was just a dream he thought to himself as he wiped dribble from his mouth. He was surprised to hear a key turning in the door "Nadine?" he yelled as he quickly stood up and rushed to the door. Brax was disappointed to see his mum "Oh it's you" he frowned.

"Oh well that's nice" Cheryl snapped "Maybe next time you could be a little more grateful when I go and pick up your son" Cheryl added.

"What are you talking about, why would you need to pick him up?" Brax replied.

"The school called apparently no-one turned up to collect him, and now I know why" Cheryl said as she picked up the half full bottle of whiskey off the table.

"I'm sorry mate" Brax said as he crouched down in front of Harley.

"Its ok dad, I know you are still upset" Harley replied before walking into the lounge.

"For god sake Brax what were you thinking? Do you wanna lose the boys?" Cheryl spat angrily "What do you think Nadine would say?"

"No of course I don't wanna lose them, they're all I've got left" Brax replied. Cheryl's harsh words had hit him hard.

"Well pull your finger out, its only a matter of time before the in-laws start poking their noses in and you know how they feel about us Braxton's" Cheryl frowned "They would love an excuse to get Rory, Cody and Harley away from us"

Brax knew his mum was right Nadine's family hated the Braxton's. Especially Brax and his 'criminal ways' as Nadine's mum called them.

Nadine's parents were always trying to give their daughter a way out of her marriage to Brax. Each time they tried to persuade her to leave him they always failed. Nadine loved Brax and was always loyal to him and his family. Much to the disgust of hers.

Ok so one last update before bedtime. I just want to take the time to thank all the people who have reviewed this story so far. I never imagined it would be this popular so thank you very much x x