This chapters only a short one. Thanks to XTR for reviewing :)

The ultrasound had gone well, followed by several checkups. For a while there everything was smooth sailing, Charlie did everything she could to keep Joey comfortable and looked after.

Joey looked in the mirror each day, her greatest fear was that her body was changing as she got further along in the pregnancy. She feared Charlie wouldn't stick around once her body becomes a distant version of its pre-pregnancy one. Sighing deeply she got dressed and headed to the kitchen.

She had barely turned around to face the door when she felt arms wrap around her and the gentlest of kisses on her shoulder. "Dare I ask what you're thinking Jo?"

"Sorry Charlie, I just…." Joey pondered her reply. "Will you still want me when I'm a balloon?"

Charlie finally understood what was on her partners mind, the source of angst these past few mornings. Chuckling she pulled Joey in for a hug and exclaimed how much she loved her and her body. Pregnant or not, huge or not, she wanted to be nowhere else.

"Nowhere?" Joey asked fearing that Charlie will take the first chance out.

"Honestly Jo, no matter what happens I want to be by your side. You're beautiful inside and out, never forget that."

Joey nodded, the words not quite sinking in. Slowly they both made their way to the kitchen to have breakfast.

….

At the hospital that afternoon Charlie had also got checked out by Sid. Her walking aid no longer needed, and her fitness levels improving each week, things were finally looking up. Joey had a checkup and all was well with her and Baby. Both Mums happy that all was well and that past stresses had not impacted on the Bub.

The peace and tranquility of the good news did not last long as Brax's voice travelled through the hospital, yelling at the nurses to look after Casey as he had been knocked unconscious.

"Leave it Charlie" Joey begged, reaching for her arm and not letting go. "Sid will sort Brax out".

Charlie looked out into the hallway, and shaking her head she rang Watson asking that she send someone out to the hospital. Brax's voice cutting through her like poison, she returned to Joey's bedside mustering all her strength to keep calm.

The privacy curtain suddenly flew open. "Well look at this, if it isn't Summer Bays newest family" Brax spat with spite.

"Brax get out of here" Charlie commanded as she stood in front of Joey. All too many times her protective stance was like déjà vu. This had happened too many times before. Why again she asked herself.

"You and me Charlie, it was meant to be you and me having a family, raising babies and all that" Brax began.

Charlie had enough, anger over boiling she stepped up to Brax. Joey was unable to hold onto her another moment. "You took care of that didn't you Brax! You couldn't be a reasonable man and walk away. You destroyed me and in doing so your dream of a family with me."

"You took off with her" he spat as he eyed Joey.

"I told you it was over and you didn't take no for an answer, so now I'm telling you walk away. Joey and I are a family, she is carrying our child and you are nothing to me. Nothing!"

Hearing Charlie's words, Brax slammed her into the wall; Charlie felt something crack as she tumbled to the floor. Her last vision as she went down was of Brax grabbing Joey.

When all hope was lost and Joey feared not just for her life but that of her child, a voice boomed "get away from my baby!" as a set of arms pulled Brax away from Joey and Charlie. Two punches were thrown, one at Brax's face, the other at his stomach. Brax was thrown out into the hallway slamming right into Watson's legs.

"Are you alright Jo?" he asked.

Joey smiled back as she realized who had saved her, nodding she was ok then she looked at Charlie and cried out as memories engulfed her mind of Brax first assault.

Thank you for reading. Please read and review. All comments are appreciated.