Hey all, sorry for the very long delay I was sick, I have no idea where I was going with this story and for the life of me I can't remember so unfortunately this is the last chapter and will a bit short, enjoy.

Two months later.

Charlie groaned as someone knocked at her door, huffing she kicked off the covers and sat up. Rolling out of the bed she glanced back at Brax and walked to the window, seeing Peter's car she sighed and walked to the door.

Going downstairs she pulled the door open "do have any idea what time it is?" she asked and walked to the table.

Peter walked in and closed the door without a word, walking to her he sat down beside her "I need to talk to you Charlz," he said seriously.

"Well you've woken me at six am on my day off so it better be important," she replied.

Peter sat there gathering his thoughts on what way to break this to her "um," he started "I got a call about an hour ago," he said.

"Okay," Charlie said slowly "work I'm guessing?"

"No," he said quickly "…mum."

Charlie's face went blank, her mother had stuck around and even bought her out of the house, she was the only one that didn't want contact with her "what about her?" she finally asked.

Peter sighed again "she passed away last night."

Charlie stared at him for a few seconds before she nodded "okay…how?"

"Seems she had an untreatable tumour before she arrived here-she found out and came back here, that's why she was acting so strange."

Charlie nodded again she was too busy trying to work out why she had no feelings about this "so she knew?" she asked "so why did she come back here and start a load of drama?"

Peter shrugged "I don't know all her doctor said was she didn't want any of us to know and that she wanted to be around us until she passed on…she wanted to be near us."

Charlie scoffed "she took my house she made the twins hate her, Drew and Ruby didn't even want to get to know her until a few weeks ago."

Peter nodded "I know and no one knows why she did what she did, I think she just wanted to be near us in her last days if we hated her or not."

"Alright," Charlie sighed and stood up "I'll let the twins know when they wake up."

"How are they settling in?" Peter asked.

"Yeah great, John dropped off the last of their stuff last night-he stayed for dinner."

Peter nodded "that's good…is Drew okay here?"

Charlie nodded "he's sharing with Jason-they insisted."

"What about you?" he asked "you just moved in, can't be easy taking on three kids that aren't yours."

Charlie shrugged "that's why I bought a five bed house because they all wanted to live with me," she chuckled "they're family if they're happy here they can stay as long as they like."

Peter walked to the door "I'll be back later I better go see Jack," he said pulling it open "you gonna be okay?"

Charlie thought for a moment "yeah, I'm gonna be okay," she smiled "see ya later," she said and walked back to the stairs.

…

As soon as Charlie lay down Brax rolled over and wrapped his arm around her "where did you get to?" he mumbled and pulled her closer.

"Pete called over," she replied and closed her eyes.

"What did he want at this time?" he asked.

"To let me know my mum passed away last night."

Brax sat up and leaned over her "seriously?" he asked looking down on her "babe I'm so sorry are you okay?" he asked moving closer to her.

Charlie rolled on her back and looked up at him "I'm fine," she replied "I don't know what it is, it's weird," she said and thought for a moment "I don't feel anything."

Brax placed his hand on her stomach "you weren't close, you didn't even talk to her, it's bound to feel weird."

Charlie nodded "I know but she's still my mum…I should feel something right?"

Brax lowered his head and kissed her "I don't know babe, I didn't feel a thing when my dad died but we had bad history."

Charlie ran her hands up around his neck "would it be okay if I talked to the kids alone?"

Brax nodded "sure, I can head home when they wake up."

"I don't know what way the twins are gonna react, I mean they hated her so much," Charlie sighed

"Don't be worrying about it now," Brax said softly "tell them and then we'll deal with what's to follow."

Charlie sighed heavily "why does bad luck follow me around?"

Brax chuckled and kissed her sweetly "things are starting to look up, you got your new house, the twins are here like you wanted. Drew and Pete have made up-you and Pete have made up and you got me, so that's pretty awesome," he chuckled.

"You think me having you is pretty awesome?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"No," he said lowering his head "I think it's a miracle I have you," he said and kissed her deeply.

Charlie pulled him closer and deepened the kiss, as Brax rolled her under him she pulled back "it's only because I'm so in love with you," she said seriously "I am so glad I stayed, I'm so lucky to have you."

Brax kissed her quickly "you mean everything to me Charlie and that will never change, fifty years from now I just know we're still gonna be happy."

Charlie nodded "we will be…in a nursing home," she giggled.

Brax chuckled "with the kids looking after us for a change."

Charlie giggled "I can't picture Casey and Kyle wheeling you around day after day."

"Nah me either I say they'll have kids and make them do it…less talk about the kids," he said and pulled her back to him kissing her hard.

A while later Charlie sat at the bench in the kitchen Brax hadn't long left, since he'd gone Drew was the only one to wake up. Not being able to keep it to herself until the others had woken she told him about his Nan…he just nodded and said he was going for a surf.

"Hey mum," Ruby yawned and walked to the coffee pot "you look like you're off in another world," she added and sat beside her.

That's because I am," Charlie replied and turned to her "Rubes there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Okay," Ruby nodded "what is it?"

"Pete called over this morning with some news," she said and shifted in her seat "Nan passed away last night," she said waiting for Ruby to burst into tears.

"I know," Ruby replied "I fell asleep in Hannah's room her dad called like super early to tell them."

"They know?" Charlie frowned "how did they take it?"

"Well, Jason didn't acknowledge it at all and Hannah was okay-she didn't cry or anything."

Charlie nodded seems they felt the same as her "alright," she said and stood up "I'm gonna go for a run I'll speak to them when they get up."

"Okay mum," Ruby said and walked into the living room.

Charlie leaned back against the counter and thought back to the last conversation she'd had with her mum.

FLASHBACK; Charlie sighed as she walked up the no longer her drive, she felt weird knocking at her own door "you wanted me to meet you?" she asked when Jade pulled it open.

"Yes I did," she replied and stepped back to let her in "I got the call about the money," she added.

Charlie walked in and stopped just inside the door, she didn't feel right being in this house again "so are you gonna buy me out or do we have to go to court?" she asked.

Jade placed a cup down in front of her "it's on the counter behind you-all of it," she added and leaned on the counter beside her "I know you don't understand what I'm doing or why I'm doing it," she said "I don't know either, I just know I need to be in this house-I need to be near my children."

Charlie placed her cup down and picked up the envelope "mum you walked out on us you can't come back here and expect me to feel sorry for you because you missed us," she said and walked to the door "Jack and Pete can do what they want but I'm sorry I can't forgive you, I don't want anymore contact with you," she said and walked off leaving Jade teary eyed looking after her END OF FLASBACK.

Charlie shook her head those were that last words she'd said to her mother…now she felt kinda bad, shaking her head she pulled her door open and went outside hoping her run would clear her mind.

….

The next evening Charlie made her way to the bar in Angelo's, Brax was behind it gathering paperwork. Finding what he needed he walked back to the office not even noticing her.

Charlie chuckled and followed him leaning against the frame she watched him settle back in his seat "you know," she said startling him "when we first started dating it was like you could sense I was around," she said and walked to him "I'm kinda hurt you didn't even notice me coming towards you out there."

"Sorry babe," he said reaching out to her "it's pay day my heads all over the place-a lot of shift swapping this week it's taking longer than normal," he said pulling her onto his lap. "I missed ya last night," he said kissing her shoulder.

"Yeah sorry," she said and turned to look at him "I thought I should sit in with the kids they were very quiet when the twins dad left…he's arranging the funeral."

"Right," Brax nodded "when is it?"

"Two days," she replied "in the city…they want me to drive them up."

"Is everyone going?" he asked.

Charlie nodded and stood up "yeah, everyone…come on," she said pulling him out of his seat "you're taking me for dinner."

Brax tugged her back to him and kissed her quickly "gimme five minutes I'm almost done."

"If I said I'd nothing on under this hoodie will it make you move faster?" she asked with a smirk.

"Moving," he chuckled and walked back to his computer.

Charlie giggled and sat on the side of his desk "how about we stay at your place tonight?"

"Yeah if you want to," he replied "but don't you wanna be there for the kids tonight?"

Charlie shrugged "they're doing okay," she replied "I mean they're not upset they didn't cry-still haven't, I don't think it's sunk in yet."

"Everyone reacts differently," Brax replied and stood up "done," he said and grabbed her hand "let's go get dinner."

"So we're staying at yours?" she asked as they walked out to a table.

"We're staying at mine," he replied and sat down beside her.

"How did Jack and Pete take the news?" he asked a while later as they walked along the beach.

Charlie shrugged "I don't know Pete seemed okay, Jack wasn't there when I called."

"They were getting close to her," Brax said

"I know," Charlie nodded "and now I know why she came back."

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded "she knew she was sick, she knew she was dying."

Brax nodded "she wanted to be with her kids."

Charlie scoffed "she thought she could just walk back into our lives without an explanation and expected us to be happy about it."

Brax pulled her closer he knew she was hurting more than she let on "she's still your mum Charlie, I know what she did and I know why you chose not to see her, but she's always gonna be your mum and nothing can change that…you need to let go of the anger."

Two days later Charlie rolled out of her bed, it was her mothers funeral today and she had promised to drive the twins and Ruby up to the city. Walking to her kitchen she saw Brax sitting at her table "hey, what are you doing here?" she asked and kissed him quickly.

"Since you kicked me out last night I thought you'd at least have breakfast with me before you went," he replied and pulled her into his lap.

Charlie chuckled and rested her arms around his neck "I did not kick you out, all the kids were a bit off about today I thought it would be better if it was just us."

"I'm kidding," he said and kissed her quickly "I'm coming today," he added.

"No room in the car babe," she replied "I have the twins Ruby and Drew."

"Drew is going with Pete Jack and Martha...Casey and Kyle too," he replied "I already checked."

"You don't have to come," she said seriously

"I know, but I want to," he said "I wanna be here for you."

"Okay," she smiled and walked to the coffee pot "can we stay at yours tonight?" she asked "I was going to ask John did he want to come down and stay for a while- he's really lonely up there...and since Drew decided he wanted his own room I don't have a spare room anymore."

"Sure babe," Brax nodded "you can stay at mine as long as you want."

"Thank you, I just think it will be better for him if he stayed near the twins for a while."

Brax nodded "you never know, he might like it as much as the twins do and decide to stay too."

"He'd probably be better off," she replied "he'd get a job easy down here."

She looked up as Hannah walked in "morning," she said.

"Morning," Hannah yawned and poured herself some coffee "what time do we have to leave at?" she asked

"Nine," Charlie replied "we have to head early to beat the traffic."

Hannah nodded and walked back to the door "I'm gonna go for a surf first see ya when I get back," she said and disappeared up the stairs.

"She seems okay," Brax said.

"Yeah," Charlie sighed "she hasn't talked about it at all, I don't think she should be bottling it all up."

"Like you are?" he asked raising an eyebrow "maybe she talked to Ruby or April."

"I made my feelings pretty clear," she said seriously "I am not bottling anything up."

"If you say so," he said and dropped a kiss on her forehead "I have to go get ready, I'll meet you back here at half eight."

"Okay, bye!" she called after him and walked to the stairs.

"Love ya babe!" he called back in.

"Love ya too!" she chuckled and went up the stairs to her room, she had no idea what she was wearing today.

….

Later that afternoon the funeral had taken place, the family had all gone back to a hotel bar to have dinner before going their separate ways "hey John," Charlie said sitting down beside him "how are you?" she asked.

"Okay considering…you?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm okay…listen," she started "I was talking to the twins yesterday, I think they'd like you to be around for a while. How about you come down and stay with us for a while?"

John thought about it for a moment "I couldn't take over your house Charlie it wouldn't be fair on you, you're not long moved in."

"I don't mind-honestly," she said "I think they need you right now, they'd love it if you came back with us…I would too," she said squeezing his hand "you're the only parent I have left."

"I didn't think you were too fond of me," he chuckled.

"I wasn't at the start, but after you explained I got over it, it was all mums fault for not telling you she was married...so what do you say?" she asked.

John thought again " if it's not putting you out too much," he said.

"You won't be," she replied "I can stay at Brax's for a few nights, you can have Ruby's room she won't mind sleeping in my bed."

"Okay then," he nodded "I'll head down in the morning-but you have to do something for me first."

"Anything," she smiled.

"You stay at mine tonight-all of you," he added.

Charlie nodded "sure that's no problem," she said and stood up "I just better go check with the others first…I'll be back in a few minutes," she said and walked off to find everyone.

A while later she had run it by everyone except Brax, she couldn't find him "Case?" she asked "have you seen Brax?" she asked after she looked around again.

"He's out on the balcony I think," he replied.

"Thanks," she said and walked outside, seeing him leaning against the rail she walked up beside him "there you are," she said and leaned into him.

"Hey," he said wrapping his arm around her "you okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded "John asked would we stay with him tonight."

"Are you going to?" he asked.

Charlie nodded "yeah, he needs us all around."

"Okay, I'll take your car to bring Casey and Kyle home, I'll drive back up for you in the morning," he said.

"Well I was kinda hoping you'd stay with me too," she said turning her body to him "he wants us all to stay."

Brax nodded "okay," he said and kissed her sweetly "but I ain't sharing a bed with anyone," he chuckled.

"Not even me?" she pouted.

"You're an exception," he said and kissed her again.

"Suppose we better head back inside," she said pulling away from him.

"Lets go round up the troops," he chuckled and took her hand.

"I hope they're really okay with staying here tonight," Charlie said watching the twins.

"They'll be fine babe stop worrying," Brax said and walked over to them.

A week had now passed since the funeral and John was still here, he loved it-he'd even taken up surfing with the kids. Charlie sat on the beach watching them all on the water "you not going in?" Brax asked walking towards her.

"Nope, not dressed for it," she chuckled nodding to her uniform.

Brax chuckled and dropped down beside her "I thought we were supposed to be having lunch," he asked wrapping his arms around her.

"We were and I was on my way," she chuckled "I got distracted by that," she said nodding to everyone out on the water.

Brax chuckled again "yeah I can see that," he said and looked out at them "the twins seem a lot happier with him here…do you think he's gonna stay much longer?"

"Why? Sick of me already?"

Brax launched and pushed her back into the sand "no," he said kissing her "I love having you stay with me," he said leaning over her "I don't want you to ever go," he chuckled.

Charlie thought for a moment "I might have a solution to our problems," she said.

"We have problems?" Brax asked raising an eyebrow.

Charlie chuckled and slapped him "be serious here."

"Okay being serious," he said and rolled off her "what conclusion have you come to?"

She sat up and slid her hands into his "move in with me?" she asked seriously.

"Move in?" he asked surprised.

"Yeah," she nodded "and if John decides to stay full time you can sell your apartment to him or lease it."

Brax stared at her for a moment she really had thought about this "and you're sure this is what you want?" Me moving in with you and four kids and possibly having my brothers there all the time too?"

"Casey and Kyle practically live there as it is," she giggled "so yes that's what I want."

Brax studied her to make sure there were no signs of regret "we'll take the kids for lunch and talk about it," he said as he saw John coming towards him "alright mate, you look like you're having fun."

"I am-too much," he chuckled "Charlie do you mind if I hang around for an extra week?" he asked sitting beside them "this place is amazing," he said looking around.

Charlie looked at Brax who nodded "why not make it permanent?" she asked.

"How do you mean?" John frowned "I have to go home an some stage," he chuckled.

"No you don't," Brax said "I'm moving in with Charlie soon so that leaves my place empty, it's there if you want it."

"Your company has a branch here so all you have to do is ask for a transfer and sell your house-it's as easy as that," Charlie added.

John stood up "I'll see you back at home, I need to think about it," he said and walked off "congrats on moving in Brax!" he called back.

….

Later that evening Charlie was making dinner, she turned as the back door opened "hey, haven't seen you all day," she said as John dropped into a chair.

"Been thinking all day," he said "and you're right, it was that easy."

Charlie frowned "what was easy?" she asked sitting beside him.

"Leaving my job-my home," he smiled "I did it, I called for the transfer and they agreed."

"So you're moving here permanently?" Charlie asked.

"If Brax can sort me out with his place by Monday then yes," he chuckled.

"Oh John that is great news," Charlie squealed and hugged him "the twins will be delighted…and Brax is already over packing his stuff up."

John chuckled and pulled back "the house went up for sale an hour ago."

"That's great," Charlie said and stood up again "let's hope it sells fast," she said and walked to the veg she had being chopping.

"What are you doing?" John asked as she started to put it all into plastic tubs.

"I think it's time we celebrated," she said and walked to the fridge "starting with this," she giggled pulling out a bottle of wine "then we're all going for dinner," she said sliding him a glass.

"My treat," John said before she could.

Fine, but I pay next time," she chuckled and looked at the door as it opened again

"Little help here," Brax said as he got wedged in the door.

Charlie giggled and hurried to him "what are you trying to do," she said taking one of the boxes from him.

"Uh move in," he said and set the other box down "hey beautiful," he said and kissed her.

"John's decided to move into your place," she said smiling.

Brax chuckled "I kinda figured that's what the answer would be-that's why my stuff is coming now," he added and sat down.

"Don't get too comfortable," Charlie said walking to the press "we're going out for dinner."

"Suits me fine," Brax said and stood up "where are all the kids?" he asked

"Drew is upstairs the rest are at the surf club, we'll meet them there," Charlie replied.

Brax nodded "I have a few more boxes in the car," he said and walked to the door.

"Let me give you a hand," John said following him.

While they were gone Charlie looked down at her stomach and smiled "soon baby soon" she giggled and patted it.

Drew walked into the kitchen "who you talking to?" he asked

"Myself," she chuckled "we're heading out for dinner John's decided to move down permanently."

"Alright," he smiled and held something up "you shouldn't leave things like this lying around."

Charlie's eyes went wide at the pregnancy stick in his hand "where did you get that?" she asked hurrying to him.

"You left it in the bathroom in the sink…are you?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded and took it from him "tell anyone and I'll kill you' it's too early to tell anyone."

Drew smiled widely "I won't breath a word…congrats Charlie," he sad and kissed her on the cheek "did I hear Brax?" he asked changing the subject.

"Yeah, he's moving some stuff in now," Charlie replied.

"Better go help then," he said and walked by her.

A while later Charlie sat at a table in Angelo's and looked around, they were all here-including the Braxton's and her friends. She chuckled as Brax slapped Heath across the head, she looked over and saw Ruby and April bickering about some film.

Standing up she walked by Brax and ran her fingers across his back getting his attention, she smiled sweetly and slipped out onto the balcony.

She was only there for a few seconds when she felt arms slide around her "having fun?" she asked as he kissed her neck.

Brax turned her face to his "yep," he said and kissed her slowly.

Charlie deepened the kiss and turned in his arms, pulling back she looked up at him "I have some news for you," she said playing with the button on his shirt.

"You're kicking me out already?" he teased.

"No," she said grabbing his hands and sliding them onto her stomach "but in about seven and a half months were gonna have to make room for someone else."

Brax looked down at her stomach "you're pregnant?" he asked looking back at her.

Charlie nodded "nearly six weeks…you okay with that?" she asked.

"Wow," was all he could say, looking down at her stomach again he ran his hands over it "I'm more than okay with it," he smiled. Leaning in her kissed her sweetly "you're amazing you know that?" he said and kissed her again.

Charlie giggled as he tickled her stomach "wanna head after dinner?" she asked "we can do some celebrating of our own."

"We better get in there and eat then…I love you so much Charlie," he said kissing her again "you're my whole world…both of you," he smiled.

"I love you too," she said taking his hand "let's go get momma some food," she giggled.

Brax wrapped his arms around her from behind and walked her inside "you better eat up fast," he said and walked to his chair.

Charlie bit her lip and sat down "everything okay?" Bianca asked.

"Yeah it looked pretty serious out there," Leah added.

Charlie looked at Brax as he smiled widely "yeah," she said and picked up her fork "everything is great."

A/N and there you have it folks, another end to another story, hope you enjoyed it. Once again thank you all the reviews and whatnot, they really do mean a lot…see ya all soon J