A Helping Hand

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

.

Reviews:

FrankElza: Thank-you, I can't believe she is a girl, I thought I was going to have another boy! I couldn't think of a better way for Heath to let off some steam and I knew it was Brax that he should vent too!
FanFicForYou: Chapter Nine: Glad you loved the date, and I honestly don't think anyone expected Bianca to turn up so it added a little twist. I had a couple of people ask about Casey so I thought it was time to make him enter. Chapter Ten: I did try to portray Heath's feelings and I wasn't sure I got it right, so you've made me feel a little better about that. I thought it would be interesting to see how Bianca would react if she thought Heath had moved on, you'll see more about that this chapter. I am taking it easy, thank you for asking. I am so excited for our little girl's arrival. We are sure our son will make a fantastic big brother! (:
RoRo90: Thank-you, that's really sweet. I am very excited for a girl; I can't wait to see how my son reacts to a little sister! I feel bad for Heath to and I'm writing this! Ahah. I thought the baby would confuse everyone at first but I am glad you have a theory behind who the baby is and I might say you're on the right track ;) Bianca was having a really tough time but I think one particular family member is going to have a hard time understanding. Chax are cute, and the hand holding was a perfect moment between the two. Don't you apologise for reviewing late! I love your reviews and I will wait for them! (:
JS: Thank-you for reviewing, I think your review for chapter nine did post, but I think it came up as guest. Glad you enjoyed the chapter and are excited for their love story. I am trying to make their love just flow. Charlie is definitely going to start gaining her independence now that she is working! (:
Neena: Thank you, I can't believe I am having a girl! I am so pleased to hear you think my story is phenomal. And I am sorry this update has taken so long! Chax is only at the beginning of their love story, hopefully more positive things for them in the future. Heath is in for some challenging times and so are his girls!

Thank-you to all those reviewed, warms my heart to see that you all love the idea of this story. Please enjoy chapter eleven!

Chapter Eleven: Talks.

8th Of January, 2016.

"Mum!" Nicole walked into the kitchen calling out for her mother which made her jump in fright. "Hi"

Charlie placed a hand over her heart. "Geez, sweetie, you scared me"

Nicole smiled innocently, her mother had taught her never to sneak up on people. "Sorry. Ruby wanted me to find you"

Charlie frowned; it wasn't like her eldest daughter to get Nicole to do her bidding. "Where is she?"

"In our room" Nicole grabbed her mother hands and started dragging her towards the bedroom, which they entered quickly.

Charlie smiled slightly when she saw Ruby was sitting on the edge of her bed brushing her hair; she was dressed but had a nervous expression on her face, which only made Charlie nervous. "Everything okay, Rubes?"

Ruby bit her bottom lip. "I wanted to ask you something"

Charlie took a deep breath as she sat down in the desk chair, Nicole sitting on her lap. "If this is about Brax and I…" She knew her daughters had left the topic alone but it had been a whole week she expected the discussion to arise sooner or later.

Ruby shook her head. "No. When I went to the party, I meet Brax's younger brother"

Charlie watched as the blush crept across Ruby's cheeks, and her heart almost leapt out of her chest. Her daughter, her teenager had a crush. "You met a boy?"

Ruby nodded. "I wanted to tell you but I thought you would freak out and I, I've never liked a…"

"I know, it's the first boy you've ever had the chance to have a crush on" She looked down at Nicole. "Why don't you go and have a shower while I talk with Ruby"

Nicole pouted; she knew what her mother was doing. It was obvious that she wanted to speak to Ruby alone. "Okay" She wriggled off her mother's lap and out of the bedroom.

Charlie turned back to her eldest. "What's on your mind sweetie?"

Ruby ran her fingers through her slightly damp hair. "He rang here last night wanting to speak to Brax but he ended up asking to catch up today, he said we could go for gelato" She looked up at her mother. "Does he want to go on a date?"

Charlie took a deep breath; she didn't think she could be having this conversation with Ruby so soon. She'd never thought about her girls dating, especially dating her boyfriend's brother. "First question, how old is he?"

Ruby smiled. "Sixteen. He's a lot younger then Brax and Heath"

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Good" Though she wasn't sure it was entirely great, sixteen year old boys had a lot on their minds and one thing in particular. "Do you like him?"

"He was really sweet and funny, mum; I think you'd like him"

Charlie bit her bottom lip, she wouldn't count on that, any boy who attempted to date her daughters didn't seem like one she was going to like. "And you want to go out with him today?"

Ruby nodded, her eyes lighting up at the idea. "Yes, but…" She looked at her mother, and for the first time in a little while her eyes shone with complete innocence. "Can you afford for me to go?"

Charlie felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her, she knew life had been tough on her and the girls, the one thing she had never wanted them to worry about was money, yet it had become the very source of their problems. "Oh baby" Charlie whispered as she moved from the desk chair to sit beside Ruby on the bed, grabbing her daughters hand in her own. "If you want to go, you can. I can afford a cup of gelato" Charlie rubbed her thumb across Ruby's palm. "I don't want you to have to be concerned about the money aspect. I want you to be a normal teenager Ruby; if you want something then I want you to ask me for it, okay?"

Ruby looked into her mother's eyes, seeing they held only the hope that things were different now. "I still want to be considerate mum, I don't need a lot"

Charlie reached up to touch Ruby's cheek. "But I will give you everything I can Ruby" She smiled. "Did he give you his number?"

Ruby nodded. "Yes"

Charlie patted her daughter's knee. "Then go ring him back. Let him know you'll meet him for gelato"

Ruby wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. "Thank-you mum!"

Charlie sighed in contentment; this was what she longed for her daughter's happiness. "You're welcome, sweetie" They stood up. "But I do want to meet him sometime soon, I don't like the idea of you going out with him when I haven't meet him yet"

"I'm sure you'll meet him soon. He's Brax's brother"

"You two taking about Heath again, don't be fooled; I am the more charming brother"

Charlie laughed as they exited the hallway, to see Brax looking at them from over the back of the couch; Nicole curled under his right arm. "We were actually talking about Casey" Charlie informed him as she placed her hand on Nicole's head. "I thought I told you to have a shower"

Nicole looked up, grinning sheepishly at her mother. "But Brax got home" She spoke innocently.

Charlie rolled her eyes at her youngest daughter, the girl already had Brax wrapped around her little finger. "You were gone early this morning" She observed leaning down to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"I had to deal with a supplier" He told her before tickling Nicole's side. "You better go have a shower, kiddo"

Nicole groaned as she buried her face in Brax's side. "Do I have to?"

"Yes" Charlie ruffled the blonde's hair. "Quickly"

Nicole kicked her feet out from underneath her, looked at Brax and then her mother. "Are you to going to stay together forever?"

Brax blinked, out of all the things he expected Nicole to say to get out of taking a shower, that was not one of them. The nine year old was looking at him with innocent eyes filled with hope, he had to look away from her but found that Ruby had now perched herself on the edge of the couch and was looking at her mother with a curious expression.

Charlie licked her bottom lip. "Um, girls…" She was stunned; she hadn't expected them to confront her in front of Brax. It was a bit unnerving. "Brax and I just started seeing each other, we don't know what's going to happen in the future but for now, we are happy" Charlie only just managed to string the words together, she wasn't sure how to handle Nicole's question. "Are…Are you two okay with us dating?"

Ruby smiled. "It's great mum, I'm happy for you" She touched her mother's arm before looking over at Brax. "And you Brax, you've been wonderful to us and I'm sure you'll continue to treat mum well…"

Nicole interrupted her sister by kneeling on the couch and throwing her arms around her mother. "This is the best news ever!" She squealed before letting go and hugging Brax. "The best news!"

Charlie laughed at the girl's reaction; she hadn't expected it to go badly. She knew both girls just wanted her to be happy. "Alright you two. Nicole, shower. Ruby, phone Casey" Charlie watched as both girls scrambled to do as they were told and she moved around to sit down beside Brax but he had other ideas and pulled her onto his lap.

"That went well" He mumbled into her shoulder.

Charlie smiled. "Very well, but you already knew it would. Nicole has you wrapped around her little finger"

Brax chuckled. "She does not"

"Does to" Charlie murmured as she lazily ran her fingers through his hair. "They're happy for us, let just make it work so that we keep them happy"

Brax looked up into her blue eyes; she was crazy if she thought they would ever break up. "Are you crazy, we're stuck together now lady, there is no getting rid of me"

Charlie faked an annoyed expression. "Oh damn"

Brax placed a light kiss to her shoulder. "What was all that about Casey?" He asked curiously, he knew his mother and youngest brother were back in town, he'd dropped by to see them yesterday but Casey hadn't mentioned knowing Ruby.

Charlie's expression turned slightly serious. "He asked Ruby out"

^..^

Heath stood in the kitchen, leaning against the kitchen counter as he watched his girls who were sitting at the kitchen table. They were actually spending some time together, scrapbooking, it was pictures of them, a project they'd been working on for the last two years.
He'd put off the discussion for the week and he knew it was inevitable, he had to tell the girls that Bianca was back in town. He knew there would probably be some bad reactions but he also knew as much as he wasn't ready to forgive Bianca, the girls had every right to know she was in town and they could decide for themselves whether seeing their mother was something they wanted.

Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "Can I talk to you two for a minute, it's important" Heath watched as both girls looked up at him with questioning eyes.

April spoke first. "Everything okay, dad?"

"It's, well, I have some news" He rubbed his cheek. "You remember last week I was a bit grumpy and I went surfing with your Uncle…"

April nodded. "Yeah, Darcy said it had something to do with a visitor while I was at the party. Who was it?"

Heath exhaled. "I never thought I would have to sit you both down for this reason. I never thought it would happen"

"Daddy, you're scaring me" Darcy looked from April to her father.

Heath reached across and squeezed Darcy's hand, smiling at her softly. "Sorry honey" He looked at them both. "That visitor was…well, it was your mother" He watched their expressions change and he felt his heart break as Darcy started to cry.

"Mummy has come back?" The tears rolled down the nine year olds cheeks, as she tried to think of her mother, she had been young when she'd left, so young that she barely remembered her. "She's really back?" Darcy stood up and flung herself onto her father's lap.

Heath rubbed Darcy's back. "Shh, honey. She was here the other night" He told her honestly as he looked over at April, he could see in her features that she was reacting badly to the news.

"Bianca's back?" The words tumbled out of her mouth harshly as lifted her angry glare from the table to look at her father. "Why?"

Heath winced, he didn't know why she was back, he hadn't allowed her to talk for long enough. "I don't know, sweetheart. She is just here" He looked down at Darcy. "If you want to see her…"

April scoffed. "See her?! No way, she needs to leave and stay the hell away from me" April's chair screeched backwards as she jumped up and ran to her bedroom, slamming the door shut.

Heath felt Darcy jump in his lap. "Hey, it's okay"

Darcy looked up at him, her eyes red rimmed and cheeks puffed. "Can I see her, can I dad?" Another set of tears rolled down her cheeks.

Heath felt his heart being pulled as he looked at his daughter, his youngest, the little girl who didn't remember her mother. "I, how about I speak to her first…and I will try and figure out a time for you to see her" He swallowed, he didn't want to let Darcy see her, he didn't want the girls anywhere near Bianca but he understood why Darcy was asking. She was only young; she didn't remember much from that time, to her, her mother was a stranger and one she wanted to see again.

"I love you, dad"

Heath kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, kid"

^..^

"Do you always just stand behind the bar and watch your employees?" Charlie teased Brax as she placed the used and empty glasses onto the surface.

Brax braced himself against the counter. "Maybe. Does it bother you?" He tilted his head; he could see in her expression that she liked him watching her.

"Maybe it does, it can be very distracting you know"

Brax grinned when he saw her blush. "I think you like it when I watch you" He whispered as he leaned across the bar, his lips brushing hers lightly. "You should get back to work, wouldn't want to upset the boss would you?"

Charlie huffed when he pulled away from her. "I'm sure I could find away to make it up to him" Charlie winked and grabbed a couple of menu off the bar before heading over to a table that had just been filled.

Brax stared after her; she sure knew how to tease him. They hadn't taken the next step in their relationship; he didn't want to take the next step with her until she was completely ready. But that didn't mean they didn't tease each other, well, it was more her teasing him with little comments and movements. "You woman have changed me" He whispered to himself as he looked over at her, she was writing down the customer's order and then as if sensing him she looked over her shoulder and grinned.

"Brax"

Brax looked over at Nicole who was coming out of the kitchen with a rather large bowl of macaroni and cheese. "Geez, kid, you got enough to eat there?"

"Yup" She grinned and placed it on the bar, taking a seat on a stool. "When are you and mum finished?"

"Not for a little while yet, miss impatient"

"Babe"

Brax tilted his head to look at Charlie, he hadn't been expecting a nickname from her but it did make his heart skip a beat. "Yeah?" He raised an eyebrow at her smile.

"My turn to take a break. I'll only be gone ten minutes; I want to get some fresh air. Is she right to stay here?" Charlie ran her fingertips through Nicole's blonde hair.

Brax nodded. "Sure, I don't mind"

"Thank-you" Charlie leaned over the bar and kissed his lips briefly. "Back soon"

Nicole looked up at Brax, swallowing her mouthful. "Are you and mum going to kiss all the time now?"

Brax chuckled. "Maybe kid, maybe"

^..^

"And then basically mum threw all our stuff in the car and we came home. I've never been more relieved in my life. I thought she was seriously going to move us up there"

Ruby giggled as she listened to the end of Casey's story. "You didn't want to move I take it"

"Are you kidding?" Casey looked at her with a distasteful expression. "And live near those weirdos that call themselves my family, no way, I'd prefer to live near my idiot brothers"

Ruby shook her head. "Neither of your brothers are idiots, younger Braxton"

Casey huffed playfully. "How many times to do I have to say it, you can call me Casey"

Ruby smiled. "Nope, younger Braxton sounds better" She laughed. "So are we getting this gelato or what?" She stood up and brushed the sand off her dress.

Casey jumped up. "Sure, you really have to try what I call the Casey special"

"Is there any such thing?"

"Of course, it's just not on the menu" He told her as they walked up the sand. "Thanks for, well, thanks for coming out with me today. I actually thought you weren't going to call me back"

Ruby blushed and looked up at him. "Why wouldn't I call you back?" She grinned. "Race you to the surf club" She gave him a playful nudge sending him back two steps before she took off running.

"Hey! Ruby! That's cheating!" He raced up the beach after her, hearing her giggles.

^..^

Bianca sat on the bench seat, her foot rested on the bottom of the pram as she stared out onto the ocean. She'd forgotten how peaceful it was to just sit and listen to the ocean, but it didn't melt away the worries in her mind. She'd been back a week, Heath hadn't contacted her. In fact she hadn't seen him since that night, she'd only seen the girls once in the diner and the thought of that just made her heart race, the thought of Heath having moved on with someone else, it crushed her. She knew she didn't have the right to lay claim to him, she'd abandoned him and the girls but it still broke her heart.

"Peaceful isn't it?"

Bianca jolted, startled at the sudden sound of someone speaking. Looking up she felt her heart constrict and her breath caught, it was the woman that had been with the girls in the dinner. She was sure Heath wouldn't have spoken of her; if she remembered anything of the man she loved it was that he didn't openly share things about his personal life. "Yes, it is"

"Oh isn't he just a cutie" She peaked over into the pram. "Oh, sorry, that's rude of me. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Charlie"

Bianca smiled weakly. "Nice to meet you. He is a cutie" She looked into the pram at the baby she'd come to love wholeheartedly, deliberately not giving her name to the woman. Since being back in Summerbay she'd managed to keep a low profile and that was the way she wanted to keep it.

"He looks exactly like…"

Bianca glanced back up. "Sorry?"

Charlie laughed slightly, shaking her head. "It's just, his features remind me of Heath" She looked into the pram. "You wouldn't know him though, I don't…"

"I should get going" Bianca stood up and gripped the handle of the pram. She couldn't sit still and listen to this woman talk about Heath. "He's due for a feed any moment now. Have a nice day" Bianca didn't turn to look back at the woman as she pushed the pram forward, coming back to Summerbay was going to prove a lot harder then she'd thought.

^..^

"I meet this woman on the beach today" Charlie pulled back from the kiss Brax had pulled her into moments earlier.

Brax exhaled as he looked at Charlie. "A woman…A woman on the beach is what you want to talk about right now?"

Charlie placed a hand on his chest. "It's just, she seemed odd. I think I…"

"Charlie" Brax placed his hands on either side of her head. "We are alone for the first time today. Can we…"

Charlie rolled her eyes as leaned forward kissing his lips lightly. "Is that what you wanted?" She whispered, her warm breath tickling his skin.

Brax tightened his arm around her waist as he kissed her lips more powerfully. "Mmm"

Charlie moaned as he slipped his tongue past her lips. She felt content in his arms, kissing him, knowing that he wouldn't push for anything more until she was completely ready. It was different from what other men would have expected or wanted from her. "Alone time is good" Charlie panted as he pulled away for a moment allowing her to catch her breath.

Brax kissed her cheek, then neck, then shoulder. "I missed you today"

Charlie laughed. "I barely left your side"

Brax shrugged. "We were working" He told her as though that made a difference. "Now it's just us. Just me and you"

"Well now that you put it that way…" She leaned forward. "I might have missed you too" She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a deep kiss.

^..^

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