Yoooohooo! Only me, Sammy. Enjoy chapter 7 and have a lovely day/night. Reviews are most welcome (the more I get, the faster I update :)

Check the AN at the bottom for what's to come in Life Goes On.

Chapter Seven

"What was that about?" Cece asked as she caught up to Chris.

"What was what about?" Chris played dumb.

"Back at the house, you were being weird."

"I just don't get why you would want to hang out with Kyle so much, he's a Braxton." Chris told her.

"He's a Braxton? So that means I shouldn't be talking to him? What?" Cece asked confused.

"No. It's just Braxton's are bad news. You know, all of them have been jail, I just don't think you should be around that." Chris tried to explain.

"Yeah, they have but I'm not going to hold anyone's past against them, we've all made mistakes." Cece told him.

Chris sighed, "Yeah but there are better people for you to have in your life."

Cece wasn't normally an angry person but Cece could feel a rant coming, "Like who Chris? Because Kyle's been like a big brother to me since I was 6 years old and yeah okay, shit happened and we lost touch but talking to him again, it's been so great. I won't lose that, not for you or anyone, so I'm sorry if you and Kyle have problems with each other but there's not much that I can do about it."

Cece paused for a moment, "I've been in foster care since my mother died. Okay, I was 6 years old and my mother had already died, that's enough sadness and negativity to last anyone a life-time, so I don't need any more in my life alright? I love happiness and smiling and I'm going to make as much of everything around me as I can, beautiful and that will be, and is, my life."

Chris was silent when Cece finished talking, "Sorry," She said quietly.

"I'm sorry. I was just annoyed because you've been hanging out with Kyle instead of me," Chris told her.

She frowned, "I haven't even been here a week yet Chris."

"I know, okay I was just jealous. I'm sorry, let me buy you a juice to apologise?"

Cece nodded, "Alright. But you have to answer this question first, just because I'm curious and forgot to ask Kyle."

Chris nodded and led her in the direction of the surf club.

"Kyle said he was running two businesses, what does he do?"

Chris frowned. He wasn't aware of Kyle doing anything other than running Angelos and Brax owned that. "Well he's the manager of Angelos, and I guess he's just been under the pump with Brax being gone."

Cece nodded.

"Actually I've seen him in the office at the gym lately, so I guess that's the second one."

Cece raised an eyebrow, "You go to the gym?"

Chris scoffed, "Of course. You don't look as good as the Chris-myster without a little bit of hard work.


Irene walked into the diner, seeing Ricky watching her son sleep in the pram. "Hello love, how's the little one?"

Ricky looked up, smiling slightly, "Asleep thankfully. Could I get a coffee thanks?"

"Sure thing, I'll bring it over in a tick."

Ricky nodded her thanks before returning to look at her son, even asleep he looked so much like Brax it made her heart hurt.

"You know love, if you ever need a break I would be happy to watch him." Irene offered.

Ricky looked up again at Irene, "Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I'm doing okay."

"No you're not. Do you know how I know?" Irene told her, "I put your coffee down in front of you a good three minutes ago and have been standing here, you've only just noticed now."

"Irene, honestly. Kyle always around if I need a hand," Ricky told her.

"And sometimes Kyle might need a break as well. The situation you're all in is beyond stressful and the offer's there. If you need it." Irene told her softly.

"Sorry to overhear but love, Irene's right. The entire bay's here to support your family, if any of you need it. Why don't you leave the young one with Irene and take some time to yourself." Alf spoke as he came over to the table Ricky was sitting at.

Ricky looked at Irene who smiled, "Are you sure?"

Irene nodded, "Of course love, would you like me to watch him now?"

Ricky looked at her sleeping son, "That would be great Irene, I might go for a quick surf."

"Take your time, I'll bring him to my house and whenever you're ready come pick him up?" Irene told her.


"Oh who do we have here?" Cece asked as she noticed a baby lying in a pram near the sofa.

Chris followed Cece and peeked into the pram, "Is this Casey?" He asked.

Irene nodded, "I thought I'd give Ricky a break for the afternoon. He's been a breeze though, hasn't woken up for hours."

Chris looked at the baby again before standing and stretching, "I'm going to go and shower, need to look my best for Leah's tonight."

Irene rolled her eyes as he left room.

"Did Chris say anything about why he was acting like he was?" Irene asked.

Cece glanced at Irene before looking back at the baby, "Yeah he was just a bit concerned about Kyle, that's all."

Irene sighed, "I told him to mind his own business. That boy never listens."

"It's fine Irene, we talked. Sort of. It's all in the past." Cece told her.

A small cry interrupted the two's conversation, Casey having woken from his sleep and was obviously wanting their attention.

"Would you mind holding him while I fix him a bottle?" Irene asked walking towards the kitchen where Casey's diaper bag was.

Cece smiled at the baby before slowly lifting him out and into her arms.


"Knock, knock!" Came a female's voice, prompting Cece to turn around to see a blonde standing in the doorway.

"Hey, are you Ricky?" She asked.

Ricky nodded, "Yeah, I am. Can I come in?"

Cece nodded, "Of course, sorry. I'm Cece." Noticing Ricky looking around the living room she added, "Irene's just popped into the shower."

"Oh okay. Would you mind if I waited for her? I wanted to thank her for watching Casey," Ricky looked into the pram where her son was sleeping.

Cece smiled, "He's been an angel. At least for as long as I've been home. He even slept through Chris's horrendous singing."

"So you must be the Cece," Ricky said exaggerating the end of her sentence. Ceece looked at her, "The Cece?"

"Kyle's spoken up you a bit."

"Kyle?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I'm his brother's girlfriend? Casey's his nephew?" Cece face palmed herself.

"Of course. Sorry, bit of a mind blank there. Yep, I'm Cece."

"How are you liking Summer Bay?" Ricky asked.

Cece nodded, "It's a lovely town. The people here are lovely."

"Well I know Kyle's glad you're here. He's not been himself since he and Pheebs broke up, you knew Phoebe from Melbourne didn't you?" Ricky asked, looking up to see Irene walking down the stairs.

Cece paused for a second, Kyle and Phoebe had broken up? That meant that they were together at some point? Kyle never said anything about that, why? "Yeah. I knew her. Bit of shock to see Kyle here, let alone her."

Ricky nodded, "Yeah I'll bet. Irene, hi. Thank you so much for watching Casey. I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Irene shook her head, "He wasn't at all. Anytime you need someone to watch him, give me a call, alright?"

Ricky nodded, "I really appreciate that. Well I better get this little man home, it was nice to meet you Cece. Thanks again Irene."

Cece watched the new mother leave in silence. Her mind still reeling from Ricky's comment about Kyle and Phoebe. Irene watched the teenager stare into space before softly asking if she was okay.

When the teenager didn't respond she sat down next to her, "Love. Are you alright?"

Cece jumped at the sound of her voice, "Sorry?"

"Are you okay Cece?"

Cece nodded and stood up, "Yeah of course. I'll go get ready for dinner?"

Irene nodded and watched the blonde bound up the staircase.


"So I met Cece today," Ricky said as she walked into the main house. Kyle was sitting on the couch sipping a beer.

Kyle looked up, "Yeah?"

Ricky nodded, "Friendly girl." Kyle nodded.

"Come on Kyle, what's going on? You haven't had an actual conversation with me since Casey was born." Ricky placed the baby monitor on the coffee table.

"What's there to say?" Kyle asked.

"I don't know but there has to be something you'd like to add," Kyle shook his head.

"Fine. Where's Josh and Billie?" Ricky asked.

"Josh's at Evie I think and Billie went away with Ash." Kyle diverted his eyes away from her when he spoke about Billie and Ash.

"Where'd they go?" Ricky asked. Kyle shrugged.

"Dunno. But it means I have the house to myself, so if you want me to take Casey for the night?" Ricky shook her head.

"Thanks mate but he seems to be settled for the night and I've already had a break. Irene was kind enough to babysit for a few hours."

"Maybe you should go and get some sleep then, I'll see you tomorrow."

Ricky nodded and left the house. Kyle watched her leave before pulling out his phone and checking his messages from Ash.


"So I'll keep off the radar and you'll just keep going in each night, until we get something solid. Don't bring up Dean unless you really have too okay?" Ash told her nervously as they drove. They'd been driving for a few hours and still had a while to go but they needed to figure out a plan.

"Yep. I know. We should have the confession by the end of the week right? I don't want to spend much time in that town." Billie told him.

"A week at the longest, I was hoping it'd be a matter of hours."

Billie shook her head, "He's not just going to outright tell me he murdered my ex-boyfriend."

Ash nodded his head, Billie was right. It would take a bit more than what he thought to get Sam to admit to the crime.


Brax looked at the photos of his family's smiling faces, he missed them. He regretted pleading 'not-guilty' more than anything in the world but there wasn't much he could do about it now. Now there was only one thing he could do to keep them safe and that was to give Gunno up to the guards. It would mean he'd be out of Gunno's reach and Kyle and Ash would stop doing dodgy runs. It would mean his family would be safe.

He ran his thumb over the photo of his newborn son, the child he wouldn't see grow up and felt his heart ache. He wanted nothing more than to be on the outside but he wasn't sure how to make that happen.


So I just uploaded the chapter without adding the note I said I would at the top. Idiot.

So in the next chapter, Dinner at Leah's, Cece begins school and confronts Kyle about his relationship with Phoebe.

The chapter's to come after that will surround Kyle's birthday, with some characters from the past returning to celebrate (guess who?)

and as a result of his birthday party, there are characters who need to face some serious ramifications as a result of their actions at the party.

Just thought I'd give you all a heads up, the 'drama' / first REAL storylines begin as a result of his birthday.