Epilogue

Looking out at her family who was goofing around in the water that achingly familiar smile spread across her face. Her brothers, her dad, Kyle and Ruby were furthest out with their boards, competing who could do the most eye catching trick while Martha stood at the edge of the water holding hers and Jack's two year old son who was laughing till he was red in the face at Brax who was goofing around with their daughter. Everyone she loved was there… Except for Casey… Looking around the beach for him she found him a bit further down, a bit away from the rest of the family, with his forehead resting against his girl's.

He and Denny had found each other all little over three years ago and had been inseparable since then. It had started with friendly words and smiles at the diner, she had been a witness to it herself since it had been during the same time she was pregnant. From then the friendly words had transformed to a little bit more flirting but the pair of them were oblivious to the fact that they were both smitten with each other. It had been a slow start until they got their heads out of their arses and did something about it. And since that day he had had that silly smile on his face, not a smirk and not a grin but a real, genuine smile and Denny wore a matching one. So seeing the two of them cuddled up together away from everyone else was not unusual or a surprise.

She had been working all day and had finally gotten home after doing some last minute things and had driven straight to the beach where she knew her family would be. Walking over to where they had all put their stuff she pulled off her clothes so she was only in her bikini and headed down to the water to join the fun. Brax currently had his back facing her and yet to notice her and she saw her opportunity to get back at him for the other day when he had come to work and embarrassed the shit out of her in front of her colleagues and brothers. As she was almost there she noticed her daughter's eyes grow a bit wider at the sight of her and she put her finger to her mouth, signing for her to not tell on her. Her daughter giggled a bit but Brax didn't think anything about it since she had been doing that the entire time.

Another few steps and she was there. She jumped up on his back and wound her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck while pushing them to the side and into the water. Coming back up the surface again she was met by a scowling Brax and a daughter bent over in hysterical laughter, looking utterly adorable in her turquoise bathing suit and pink arm-puffs.
"Told ya I'd get you back Braxton!" She grinned and walked over to their daughter and picked her up, hugging her real tight while placing kisses all over her face. To that their little trouble maker retaliated with putting her hands on her mother's face and squishing her cheeks together while pushing it lightly backwards before letting go.

"Hi mommy!"
"Hi baby! Did you have a good day with daddy?" She nodded her franticly making her light brown curls, almost identical to the ones of her sister's, bounce on her head as she started to talk feverishly about her day and all the fun and mischievous things she had gotten up to with her dad on his day off.

"Kylie! What did we say about telling mommy about all that?" Brax's voice boomed from behind them.
"To not tell her because it could get daddy into to trouble." She grinned, clearly enjoying the predicament she had just put her father in. "But mommy said that I should always tell her everything even though you say that I can't, that way she won't get any surprises." At that Charlie couldn't help but laugh and neither could Brax.

Their laughter had caught the attention of the others and they were all making their way over to them. Pete and Ruby pushing each other back and forth, trying to get the other one to trip over. Jack and her dad was arguing about how they were clearly the one who had caught the better way while Kyle walked beside them with a grin, not saying a word but his eyes were only on the little girl in her arms and the little girl's eyes were now directed to nothing else but Kyle who was walking towards them.

Since the first moment in the hospital and Kyle had gotten to hold her he had created some incredible bond with her and he had become infatuated with the girl from the start like the rest of them and even more so when they told him her name and that he was her godfather. He had actually cried a few tears before sitting down in a chair with the babe in his arms and started talking to her about all the things he was going to show her and teach her when she or Brax would not let her. The sight had warmed her heart and she realised she had made the right choice. It had only seemed fitting for the pair of them that Kyle was going to be involved in the baby's life since he was the reason she was here and they got back together after their talk on the beach.

"There's my girl!"
"Kyle!" He smiled at the little girl who had her arms outstretched for him and he more than willingly walked over and picked her up before starting to walk away and up the beach without another word. And she let out astonished laugh but then shrugged it off since it wasn't the first time she had lost her daughter's attention as soon as her uncle Kyle walked into the room.

A pair of arms sneaked around her waist and pulled her up close against a rock hard chest as she watched her daughter and her uncle up on the beach. Those familiar arms gave her some warmth in the chilly water and the kisses her man planted up and down her neck was enough to get her pulse raising and her temperature up.
"We make incredible babies together."
"That we do." She agreed. "I got something for you today."

"Yeah, what's that?" He mumbled against her skin, never once stopping the assault on her neck and she noticed that the rest of the family had also started making their way up to the sand.
"The papers arrived at my office this afternoon." She didn't have to say anymore, she knew he would understand exactly which papers she was talking about. It was papers the both of them had been waiting on for forever and by the way he froze behind her she knew that he was trying to compose himself.
"He- He signed them?" He stammered.
"Yeah, the judge forced his hand and apparently getting a lighter sentence meant more to him then his daughter."

Before she even had a chance to register what was happening he had spun her around and planted a soaring kiss on her lips before taking off towards the beach and she almost had to run to keep up with his speed. He walked straight up to Ruby taking her into his arms and spinning her around in the air before holding onto her like he would never let go.
"We did it baby! He's out of our life for good." He said and let go so that he could see her face as he told her the news.
"You mean he signed the papers?!"
"Signed and filed!" He grinned and laughed as she launched herself at him again but held more than gladly onto her.

The smile could not be erased from either ones face all day and not from hers either. All the way home Ruby and Brax walked and held onto each other, nothing had changed except from a few signatures on a few papers but just knowing did a lot to once mind, gave you a sort of ease. For years they had been talking about Brax adopting Ruby and for the last year they had been trying to get Grant to sign the papers but he knew that it was the last hold he had over them so he downright refused to do such a thing. But she had eventually gotten a prosecutor to do a deal with him and he had been too much of an egotistical jerk to give the deal up so he had signed the papers and she had gotten them back today. It was the final string they had to cut with him and she knew Ruby couldn't be happier about it, to not have him come around with some silly legal claim. That all of that now belonged to Brax and honestly neither could she.

As they got home she had taken Kylie to give her a bath and put her to bed so that Brax and Ruby could have some alone time. It had been a long day for everybody out in the sun and then dinner with the family, plus all the emotions. Kylie was ready to drop which made bathing time less of a fuss and she didn't end up getting all of the water over her and the bathroom floor instead of the kid. After changing Kylie into her pyjamas and tucking her in her little angel was out like a light, clutching her stuffed dolphin close to her chest.

She sat on the edge of the bed and just watch her little girl, amazed by the person she was becoming. So full of light and energy, her mind not haunted by darkness and she'd be damned if she ever was. Letting Brax in and letting him become a part of her family and then her life was the best thing she had ever done. Creating a family with him and starting a life with him was everything she had dreamed of and more. No matter what had happened in the past she knew the incredible man he was and she had been no saint either early on in their relationship. The whole trying to hide them and not wanting to go public thing. It had mostly been because she was scared and maybe a little ashamed of how it would affect her at work. But getting the courage to get over that and do it anyway was the best thing she ever did. He had showed her that over and over again.

She stroked her daughter's silky hair, the part of it that was sticking out from under the sheets and placed a kiss on her head before putting out all the lights and leaving the door slightly ajar. She could her Ruby and Brax talking in the living room and decided to give them some more time, plus she was getting pretty tired herself so she walked into hers and Brax's bathroom and took a quick shower before brushing her teeth and crawling into bed only dressed in one of Brax's old shirts. Her eyes had dropped and her mind had almost travelled to the lands of dreams when she felt the bed dip beside her and then a familiar warmth wrapped around her. She lay her head on his chest like every night and started to trace his tattoo while letting his heartbeat lulling her to sleep combined with his fingers stroking up and down her back.

"Thank you!" She heard him whisper in a quiet tone as to not disturb the peace they had in the dark and comfort of their bed.
"What for?"
"For giving me everything that you have. I.." She could tell that this was his way of thanking her of everything she wanted to thank him for but as he wasn't one for words it came out a little awkward but it still warmed her heart knowing he was that grateful that he would try. Leaning on one of her elbows so that her head was hovering a bit over his she looked him straight in the eye.

"I could say the same thing to you Braxton. Meeting you in that club was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me!" She could hear him draw in a long breath and before she knew it she had been flipped over and he was hovering above her, his lips only a whisper from hers. His breath tingled on her lips and she waited with anticipation of what he was going to do next. In the next second his lips descended to hers and he pressed a tender kiss to her lips, nibbing slightly on her bottom lip to get her to let him in. His tongue stroked hers gently and her entire body shock with tingles from the sensation. He never ceased to take her breath away, every time he touched her or kissed her she got the same tingles in her body as if it was the first time. "How about we work on that son I promised you?"

It felt right, to have another baby with him and expand their family so that she could show everyone how wrong they were, including her, and to show everyone what amazing man he was. She wanted a son with that boyish grin that never failed to make her legs give up and those piercing grey eyes that could see straight through you. A boy who would have the same heart as his father, he would not be afraid to go after what he wanted and he would have the same protectiveness for the people he considered family and help people. She wanted to show Brax how amazing he really was.

"God I love you!" He croaked out before kissing her again, pressing her further into the mattress.

"I love you too!"

So that's that! The end of the show and the curtains close. Didn't know how cheesy to spin it so just threw something together to get it done with. Like I've said before it's been a blast writing this and hearing what you had to say and I hope that you will continue to read my stories if I post another one.

So I threw in some Kyle since he did not become as big of a part in the other chapters and I DEFENITELY had to throw in Casey and Denny considering the last episodes of Home and Away. I swear to god I cried like a baby. I didn't like Casey from the start but the last 1½ years he has been one of my favourites. And I mean come on! How perfect isn't Denny and Casey together, I have adored their entire relationship, so sweet and… yeah just perfect haha. Can't find the words.

Well this is it for this time folks, hopefully we'll see each other soon! If you have any questions or suggestions/wishes/prompts send me a PM why don't you. Always open for a bit of a chat.

Thank you so much, Love Lexie! xx