Hey readers, here is chapter 11.

2 Weeks Later

Charlie sat beside Brax as they stared at Cheryl's motionless body in the hospital bed before them. Sid gave them a sad smile as the turned around to leave.

It had been said and there was no taking it back.

Cheryl was going to die.

"I just can't believe this." Brax said quietly.

"I know baby, it's hard to take in," Charlie said. "I'm so sorry."

"You didn't do this." Brax murmured as Heath, Casey and Kyle walked in.

"So it's true?" Heath asked. "Mum's gonna die?"

Brax couldn't bring himself to speak so he just turned away, he couldn't face his brothers at a time like this. Charlie could see it in his eyes so she glanced up at the brothers.

"Cheryl was diagnosed with cancer two months ago but it's progressed slightly more."

"Why didn't she tell us?" Casey asked.

"My guess is that's why she came back, she wanted to make peace." Charlie told the brothers sadly.

"Oh, mum, don't do this to us." Heath muttered.

"Is she going to wake up?" Kyle asked.

"Sid said that she will but he doesn't know what her quality of life will be like."

"How long?" Heath asked, Charlie immediately knew what Heath was asking.

"Sid estimated that she has six months."

"Just six months, that's all?" Casey asked and Charlie nodded sadly.

"I need air." Brax said as he left the room in a hurry.

Brax couldn't believe what he was hearing, six months? She would miss out on so much. Seeing her grandchildren grow up, birthdays, Christmas, weddings. Brax sighed as he realised his mother wouldn't be around to see him marry Charlie.

He didn't want to lose his mum. No matter how much she had infuriated him over the years with her gambling and alcohol addiction, she was still his mum. He didn't want to see her die.

"I'm gonna go find Brax." Charlie told the brothers. They just nodded as they looked down at a motionless Cheryl.

Charlie walked outside to see no trace of Brax.

"Brax?" She called. No response came. She took her phone out of her pocket and dialled a number.

"Rubes? Have you seen Brax?"

Charlie walked into Angelos to see Brax sitting at the bar, trying to drown his sorrows in a bottom of a bottle.

"Brax, don't do this."

"My mum is gonna die!" Brax exclaimed hysterically.

"Brax, baby, I'm sorry."

"She's going to miss so much Charlie, she can't just die." Brax sobbed as Charlie wrapped her arms around him.

"She's not gonna see the children grow up." Brax cried and Charlie rubbed his back.

"I know baby, I know."

"I spent so long hating her Charlie, but I love her."

"Of course you do Brax, she is your mother." Charlie told him as she kissed her head.

"She'll never see me marry you Charlie."

"Unless we get married."

"What?" Brax asked. "You don't think it's too soon?"

Charlie shook her head. "No, I don't."

"Charlie..."

"Don't think about it Brax, we'll talk to the kids at home and we will make this happen. I love you."

"This isn't how it's meant to be. I should be proposing romantically to you." Brax told her and Charlie shook her head.

"It doesn't matter, I love you. I want to marry you."

"No, we're doing this right, Charlie, you deserve it."

"Brax, listen to me. I don't need a big fancy romantic proposal, I just need you, okay?" Charlie asked as she pressed a kiss onto his hair.

"But-" Brax was interrupted by Charlie pulling him into a long kiss.

"Everything is going to be fine, Brax, I promise."

"I'm going home to speak to the kids, you need to go back to the hospital and be with your brothers." Charlie told him and Brax sighed.

"My kids, I can't tell them...I just can't Charlie." Brax sobbed and Charlie nodded.

"I'll take care of it, Kyle can help me. It's just Case and Heath at the hospital. You three deserve time with your mum."

"I can't ask you to tell them." Brax said softly and Charlie shook her head.

"They are like my own, I will do this. You better get back to the hospital. I love you."

"I love you so much Charlie." Brax said as he kissed her passionately goodbye.

"What do you mean?" Jade sobbed. "How does Gran have cancer?"

"I'm sorry, kids, it's true."

"How long has she known?" Darcy asked.

"I'm not sure honey."

"What's cancer?" Mia asked. "Mummy, why are you sad? Why is everyone sad?"

"Mia, honey, cancer is a very serious disease."

"Why is my Grandma dying Charlie?" Samantha asked and Charlie glanced at her with a sad smile.

"There is no reason Sammie, this happens sometimes." Charlie said softly as Samantha shook her head.

"Can she get better?"

"No honey, this time she can't get better."

Charlie glanced over and saw Cassie crying into Taylah's shoulder, Brax's girls looked so sad and Chase...Charlie shook her head he was curled up in Tamara's arms his head rested on her shoulder as his tears flowed.

"Mum, there's more isn't there?" Joey asked and Charlie nodded slowly.

"Brax is really upset and I made him a promise. I know this is going to upset some of you but I really hope you understand." Charlie said and Ruby raised her eyebrow as she wiped her tears away

"What is it mum?" Ruby asked and Charlie took a deep breath her eyes shut tightly.

"Brax and I are going to get married so Cheryl is still here to witness the wedding."

"You and Brax are getting married?" Tamara asked. "It's about time."

"Drew, you're gonna be my brother." Chase said, trying to be excited through his tears.

"Are you only getting married cause Cheryl is dying?" Nicole asked.

Charlie shook her head. "No, we were going to get married eventually, but we want Cheryl to be here."

"Okay." Nicole breathed out as she gave Charlie a small smile, Charlie was thankful that she didn't make a scene.

"Does Grandma know?" Darcy asked but Charlie shook her head.

"No," Charlie said but she noticed how the twins said nothing. "Jade, Jack is this okay with you?" Charlie asked softly and Jade glanced at Kyle her face crumbling.

"Its okay Jadey, come here" Kyle said as he opened his arms, she fled into them the tears flowing.

"Jack?" Charlie asked and the teenager glanced at her.

"Looks like you'll be our mum." Jack said as he stood up and left the room, Charlie went to stand but Nicole smiled.

"I got this mum." Nicole said as she left the room after Jack, she knew how he was feeling. She didn't want Charlie with Brax at first and now she needed to give advice to Jack and help him understand that Charlie wasn't going to replace his mother.

"Jack, I understand what you're going through." Nicole said gently as she closed the bedroom door behind her.

"It just feels like everyone's leaving," Jack sobbed. "My mum left, and now Gran is dying. It's not fair!"

"I know that it's not fair," Nicole tried to soothe him. "But Charlie knows that she's not going to replace your mum, she doesn't want to, just like I know that your Dad isn't going to try and replace mine."

"Is my mum ever going to come back?" Jack asked.

"I don't know, that's up to your mum." Nicole said.

"I don't want her to come back, she abandoned us."

Nicole sighed. "That doesn't mean that she doesn't love you."

"Why did she leave us?" Jack sobbed and Nicole sat down on the edge of his bed.

"Sometimes things like this happen because the person can't cope." Nicole said softly and Jack looked up at her.

"Is it wrong to want Charlie to be my mother? The girls need someone to be a mum, Aunt B and Tam do their best but it's not enough. I hear Jade crying at night, the girls want that mother figure but most of all Cassie needs that." Jack said and Nicole smiled sadly.

"Emily told me that Jade cries in her sleep."

"Is it wrong Nic?"

"No, it's not wrong," Nicole said. "You can feel that way."

"It feels like I'm betraying mum though." Jack told Nicole.

"Listen, your mum will want you to be happy, right?" Nicole asked and Jack answered. "Doesn't that answer your question?"

"What if Mum comes back and Charlie and Dad are married?" Jack asked. "What happens then?"

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?" Nicole asked.

"Okay. Thanks Nic."

"It's no problem kiddo." Nicole said as she pulled Jack in for a hug.

Charlie knocked on Jack's bedroom door, opening it she saw Nic and Jack smiling at each other.

"Everything okay?" Charlie asked and Nicole stood up.

"I'll leave you two alone." Nic said as she left the room giving Jack a reassuring smile.

"How you feeling kiddo?" Charlie asked as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"A little better, uh Charlie can I asked you a question?" Jack asked nervously.

"Of course, anything."

"Will you be my mum?" Jack asked and Charlie glanced at him stunned.

"Your mum? Of course, if that's what you want. You know I love you." Charlie murmured softly.

"And I can call you mum?"

"I'd love nothing more than to hear that coming from you." Charlie whispered as she pulled him in for a hug.

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