New Chapter =D
I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter. I thought I'd throw in a bit of Brax's point of view, cause we hadn't heard from him in a while, but not to worry more chapters with him in it will be coming up =) I'm so glad all of you liked and accepted the new character 'Jess'. Expect to see more from her in future chapters ;)

So thanks again for all the reviews, favourites and alerts. It means a lot to mean that so many of you are reading this. I've done a lot of research into elements of this story and I'm glad that has paid off. So yeah, continue reading, reviewing and favouring.

Enjoy this next chapter my lovelies xo

Chapter 13

Week 15

Charlie's Point of view

I had been tossing and turning for the past hour before I got out of bed to get a drink. I walked into the kitchen staring at my tiny pot belly before smiling. "You should be in bed Missy!" Leah was standing over the bench making herself a cup of tea.

"And so should you!" I laughed, opening the fridge and getting out the milk for her.

"Miles is snoring…poor thing has got a cold and it is driving me crazy" She replied with a laugh. "You want one?" she nodded towards the kettle. I smiled and nodded before grabbing the jar of biscuits out of the cupboard. "So why are you up? Cravings?" Leah asked knowingly.

"Not exactly. I just can't sleep…my belly is starting to get in the way" I laughed, rubbing my tummy gently.

"Ahh I remember the feeling…still early days though" She took both cups of tea into the living room and we sat at the table. "I actually have just the thing…I think it's in the garage somewhere. I used it when I was pregnant with VJ. It's called a body pillow. The comfiest thing you'll ever sleep with. Now I remember why I never threw it out" She chuckled, taking a sip of her tea.

"I suppose it's better than sleeping alone" I shrugged, wrapping my arms around stomach and looking at it.

"Charlie, I know it's hard right now, but it'll get better. And just think, this baby is going to have one loving Mummy and big sister!" Leah smiled.

"Yeah I suppose so. It's just that Ruby has grown up without a father…I mean, she had Dad so I guess she never knew what it was like, but I just want a father figure in this baby's life. It deserves that much" I nibbled on a biscuit, thinking out loud.

"Think about this Charlie…what type of father would Brax be? He's a river boy; he's mixed up with a lot of stuff. And some of that stuff has put you and Ruby in danger…would you want your baby growing up in that type of environment?" Leah asked seriously.

"Brax practically raised Casey and Casey turned out to actually be a really good kid. We talked about this once…about the future and if he were to ever have kids. He told me that he wouldn't want them growing up in the environment he grew up in. He wanted a better life for his kids and to be honest, I think him not being here is that better life" I shrugged, remember back to when we had that conversation.

"You're baby is so spoilt for having so many people around it that will love it" Leah finished her tea before hopping up. "Come help my find this pillow so we can both get a good night sleep" Leah took my hand and led me out towards the garage. Soon enough the large U shaped pillow was found and I had headed back to bed to get a good night sleep.

"Charlie…Charlie wake up" a voice broke me away from my slumber. I opened my eyes to find the sunlight streaming through my room and Ruby sitting at the end of my bed. "Get up! We're having breakfast at the diner before heading to the hospital" Ruby sounded excited. I was going for an ultrasound, along with a few other tests just to make sure everything was in order.

"Ruby, calm down! Let me have a shower then we'll be on our way" I sat up, peeling myself from the body pillow. Leah was right, best nights sleep I'd ever had! Even better than being cuddled up to Brax. After my shower and finding something that would fit, Ruby and I headed down to the diner for some breakfast.

"How'd you sleep?" Leah asked as soon as I walked in.

"Very good! Thanks for the pillow" I laughed.

"Oh Charlie you are looking wonderful…what can I get you this morning?" Marilyn asked with her usual smile and cheerful voice.

"Just an green tea and something organic I think…anything you can suggest?" I asked with a smile.

"Oh I've got just the thing…buttermilk pancakes with fresh organic grown berries!" Marilyn squealed before Ruby ordered the same thing and we both sat down. It didn't take long for the town to realise I was pregnant. It didn't help having Colleen working at the most social place in the bay either.

"Sergeant Buckton…a single woman at your age pregnant. I still can't get over it" the old town gossip muttered before placing a jug of water on our table.

"Mrs Smart…if you've got something to say to Charlie, why don't you say it to her face?" Ruby spoke up.

"Well, I was just saying that our local sergeant is single and pregnant…what type of life is this baby of yours going to have? With the hours you work and still living with poor Leah…I hope you don't expect her to look after this baby when you're out protecting our little town from River boys and other undesirables" Colleen rolled her eyes.

"Well personally I think Charlie is going to be just fine, and I think that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!" Ruby sounded outraged. Colleen went wide-eyed as Ruby ripped into her.

"Colleen get back in the kitchen! If I hear another word out of you, don't expect to be working here tomorrow!" Irene placed our orders on the table before shoeing the old batty gossip away. "So sorry about her Charlie…just ignore everything she says. We're all happy for ya darl" Irene smiled before turning and glaring at an embarrassed Colleen. If Colleen ever found out the leader of the River Boys was the father, I'd hate to be in town when that went down!

"I swear does she have nothing better to do" Ruby scoffed as she angrily dug into her breakfast.

"Ruby, calm down, people are entitled to their opinion…Colleen just seems to be more open about it than others" I chuckled a little. "But thank you for sticking up for me…I appreciate it" I smiled rubbing her hand gently. Breakfast was soon finished along with a chocolate muffin I had been eyeing off since I walked in. "Well ladies…and Colleen. Thank you all for the lovely breakfast, it was amazing!" I walked up to the counter to pay.

"You are very welcome. Hope everything goes well with your ultrasound today" Marilyn took the money off me before giving me some change.

Ruby of course wanted to get to the hospital early to check things out and sign up to antenatal classes in preparation for the birth. "Ruby calm down, you're acting like you're the one having the baby…just chill a little." I laughed as we sat in the waiting room, Ruby showing me some pamphlets.

"Charlie you can relax cause you are pumped up with hormones at the moment…I am not and I am starting to freak out. What if something is wrong with the baby?" Ruby looked worried.

"Sweetheart, everything is going to be fine" I was so glad I was floating on a cloud of hormones lately. I hadn't had a panic attack in a few weeks and the stress of all of this had finally settled down. I could now enjoy being pregnant and anticipate a new life with my new baby and my daughter.

"Is this your first?" another lady interrupted Ruby and I as Ruby was pointing out things in the flyers.

"No…it's my second. So naturally my daughter is the one freaking out" I nodded towards Ruby who was intently reading.

"Wow, you must have had her at a young age!" The woman sounded shocked. I nodded before looking at her large bump.

"How far along are you?" I asked.

"Only got 3 weeks to go…I'll be so glad once its over. My first pregnancy and it has been hell!" She groaned, leaning back in the chair and rubbing her belly.

"Charlie Buckton?" a nurse called my name.

"Well that's me. It was nice meeting you and good luck" I smiled before getting up with Ruby and heading towards the room.

"Ah Charlie…how has everything been?" Dr Spencer asked with a smile as I sat down in the chair.

"Pretty good…just a few sleeping troubles, but nothing I can't handle" I replied.

"Ok well today we're just going to do an normal ultrasound, along with an internal ultrasound and then a few tests just to rule out any genetic defaults" she continued with the itinerary for the day. She took some tests first before starting the first ultrasound.

"Oh Charlie, look at it. It's sooooo cute!" Ruby looked at the screen.

"In the next few weeks you might notice your baby moving around a lot. Don't be worried, it's just your baby getting a feel of its limbs and having a bit of a wriggle around the womb. Would you like to know the sex?" Dr Spencer asked as she moved the wand around my tiny bump.

"YES!"

"No" Ruby and I answered at the same time.

"Oh come on Charlie just find out so we can start choosing names and buying stuff and stop calling it 'it'…pleeeease Charlie!" Ruby pleaded.

"No, I want it to be a surprise" I stuck by my original decision.

"Don't you want to know if it's a little Buckton or a little Braxton?" Ruby smiled.

"No matter what the gender, it is going to be a Buckton and that is final!" I laughed. Ruby walked off sulking as I got changed into a gown and the Doctor continued with more tests. After about an hour test results came back clear and everything was normal. I booked in for future appointments and Dr Spencer printed out a few copies of ultrasound photos for Ruby and I to keep. "Thank you so much" I smiled to the doctor before Ruby and I left.

"I just can't get over how small it is…inside you" Ruby continued on in amazement as she looked from the photo to my bump and back again. Her enthusiasm for this baby was amazing and I was so glad I had her full support throughout this. I was going to need it.