Complications We Didn't See Coming

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

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Chapter Twenty Four, Part Two: Talks, Babysitter & Apologies.

Brax sat down in the chair across the table from Ruby as she placed her milkshake down. He'd let her babble about school the entire trip to the diner but he knew the subject of Nicole couldn't be avoided. From what he knew and had seen the girls were best friends, close sister. They had arguments like any siblings but never anything big, they were never mean to eat other.
Looking at his daughter he didn't understand the happiness in his daughters eyes, it was as though she hadn't spoken horribly to Nicole before.

"Dad, can we get chocolate cake?" Ruby's eyes sparkled with hope.

Brax shook his head. "No, something healthier" He rubbed the back of his head. "Rubes we have to talk"

Ruby spun the straw around in milkshake, glancing away from the menu to her dads face. "About what?"

Brax raised his eyebrow. "About what you said to Nicole. That was very rude and hurtful, Ruby. You made her cry"

Ruby shrugged. "But it's the truth"

Brax shook his head; he had no idea why Ruby would think that was even close to the truth. "No kiddo, it's not the truth"

"Yes it is" Ruby said forcefully. "You can't love her. You're not her dad"

Brax rubbed his cheek thoughtfully; he wasn't entirely sure how to handle the situation. Charlie would know exactly what to say but he couldn't make her deal with it, not when it was clearly about him. "Ruby, I'm not her biological dad but I'm still her dad. I love her just as much as I love you"

Ruby crossed her arms, her head shaking as she leaned back into her chair slouching. "No. You can't. You only love mum, me and the new baby"

Brax leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. He knew he couldn't just tell her she was wrong not when she clearly believed what she was saying. He needed to know why she thought that and then change her mind about it. "Why do you think that Ruby?"

Ruby took a sip of her milkshake. "Because she isn't family and if she is then I'm in the middle and the middle child always gets left out"

Brax frowned, that's what it was about. "Who told you that kiddo?"

Ruby shrugged. "A boy in my class and he's right. So you can't love her cause if you do then you won't love me as much. He knows, he's a middle child and his parents don't love him as much"

Brax exhaled, he motioned for her to come and sit beside him which she did in a hurry. Brax looked down at his daughter. "Ruby, that's not true. I'm going to love you, Nicole and the baby equally. I'm not going to love one of you more than the other"

"Yes you will" Ruby sulked. "Nicole can go live with her dad"

Brax looked at Ruby with a stern expression. "Ruby, Nicole is your sister. You need to stop being mean"

"No she's not. I don't want her here. I don't want the baby. I just want you and mum" Ruby couldn't help the tears that ran down her cheeks.

Brax sighed and pulled her into a hug. "Honey, your sister and the baby are family. Family always loves each other and sticks together"

Ruby sniffled and hugged her father tighter. Brax's chin was rested against the top of her head, he knew this was far from the end of the conversation, the brunette didn't believe him but he was beginning to understand her point of view.

"I don't want to share you. I just got you" Ruby cried.

^..^

Charlie looked up in shock as the front door flew open with force, she was about to scold Nicole but she saw the tears streaming down the child's face. The young girl dropped her backpack and ran down the hall, her bedroom door slamming shut moments later.
Charlie shook her head stunned at the scene, looking towards the door she expected to see Brax but frowned at the sight of Bianca giving her a sympathetic smile. "What's going on?"

Bianca leaned against the door frame. "I'm not entirely sure, but Ruby said some pretty horrible things to Nicole"

Charlie raised her eyebrow, the girls never fought. "Where's Brax? He was meant to be picking the girls up" Charlie stood up.

Bianca nodded. "I know, but I brought Nicole home and he went with Ruby to the diner. I've never seen Ruby that angry Charlie, those girls are so close but…"

Charlie frowned. "I'm not sure I understand…"

"Brax will explain it to you but you should talk to Nicole. I'll get someone else to watch April tomorrow; you should spend the day with Brax and your girls"

"Who will watch her? Irene is working" Charlie knew Bianca didn't have anyone else she would leave April with on such short notice.

Bianca shrugged. "I'll figure it out. Just go be with your daughter. See ya Charlz"

"Bye Bee" Charlie called after Bianca as the woman shut the door behind her.

Charlie eyes flickered over to the hallway, she had no idea what had gone on but she was about to find out. She couldn't imagine that Ruby would say something to upset Nicole like she was; the sisters had never been nasty to each other.

…

"Nicole. Sweetie, I'm coming in" Charlie called as she knocked on Nicole's door, opening it slowly, her heart clenching at the sight of the young girl lying on her stomach on the bed with her face buried in her pillow. Her sobs were loud and heartbreaking. Charlie crossed the room quickly and sat down on the edge of the bed, her hand rubbing soothing circles on Nicole's back. "I'm here baby, I'm here" Charlie soothed. "What happened?"

Nicole shook her head; she didn't want to reveal to her mother what Ruby had said. What was the point? "No-Nothing"

Charlie raised her eyebrow at Nicole's muffled voice. "That's a lie sweetie, something happened to make you this upset. Tell me what happened"

"Th...their on a-a-a daddy daughter da-date" She hiccupped. "He doesn't love me like Ruby. She said so" Nicole's sobs grew louder.

Charlie frowned, she didn't understand properly. "Nic, sweetie. Who said that?"

"Ruby!" Nicole exclaimed her voice muffled by the pillow.

Charlie shook her head, she didn't understand why Ruby would say something so horrible to her sister, it wasn't like the brunette at all. Her mind flashed to this morning, Ruby cuddled on Brax's lap, closing her eyes, she exhaled. "Oh baby, Ruby didn't mean it, she's just upset. Brax loves you, he's your dad"

"She meant it" Nicole spoke bitterly, wriggling away from Charlie's hand. "He's not my dad. My dad abandoned me because I'm unlovable. Ruby's right. He only pretends to love me because I'm here" Nicole cried as she rolled over to the wall away from Charlie. "Go away"

Charlie stared at her daughter's back as her hand dropped to the bed, she couldn't let her daughter retreat from her once again. They'd just gotten over the issue of her not being Nicole's real mother. "Nic, please…"

"Please, go away" She sobbed.

^..^

Bianca cuddled on the couch with Heath; she could hear the laugher on Darcy and April as they watched a movie in Bianca's bedroom. Bianca couldn't take her mind away from the fact that she had know one to watch April tomorrow while she was in the city, it wasn't like she could take her, not to a meeting for the school.

"What's wrong?" Heath grunted, his eyes flickering from the tv to the blonde, he could see she was clearly restless.

Bianca looked up. "Nothing"

Heath smirked. "Liar"

"I just have a meeting in the city tomorrow but I have no one to watch April" Bianca sighed.

Heath rubbed his fingertips over her arm. "I'd offer but…"

Bianca cut him off. "You would?"

Heath nodded, holding her still as she went to pull away. "I would but I'd don't think she'd be comfortable being alone with me for the whole day"

Bianca sighed, slumping against him again. He was probably right; April possibly still wasn't ready to stay with him alone. "You're probably right"

Heath could see the miserable look cloud her face. "How about we talk to her about it?" Bianca nodded slightly and Heath turned to look at the bedroom door. "April, can you come here for a second?" He called; he was surprised when the girl appeared the doorway immediately with a nervous expression on her face.

"Yes?"

"Come sit, honey" Bianca patted the cushion beside her and April walked over and plopped herself down beside her mother, looking at Heath with concern. "I want to talk to you about tomorrow. I have a meeting in the city tomorrow and you were meant to stay with your Auntie but you can't…"

April nodded, her eyes darting from her mother to Heath. "Where am I going to stay?"

"Well we want to know how you would feel about spending the day with Heath and Darcy?" Bianca questioned, she watched carefully as her daughters face filled with panic before settling. "It's just for the day and Heath can watch you here so you'll have your own room if you want to get away"

April bit her bottom lip, she was clearly nervous but she did admit to herself that she liked Heath, he was funny and he was sweet to Darcy but she was also scared of what he would be like once they were alone. "I…" She saw the hopeful look in her mother's eyes and she knew she couldn't disappoint her. "Okay"

Heath smiled. "If you want to, I know you were invited…Casey's birthday party is tomorrow. We could go instead of staying in the house"

Bianca smacked her forehead. "I completely forgot. Looks like Charlie and Brax won't be getting their day with just the girls"

Heath chuckled. "It's later in the day, three til six. We can hang out here then go over for the party, come back and have dinner and then you should be home"

April nodded. "Okay" She did want to go to Casey's party and she was thankful Heath would take her.

"You sure you're okay with this?" Bianca ran her hand through April's hair.

April nodded. "Yeah, it's okay mum. Can I watch the movie now?" She noticed her mother immediately nod but April was focused on Heath; she'd never been allowed to leave unless it was okay with Liam so it applied to Heath or so she thought.

Heath could see her looking at him for permission, he'd noticed it before. Whenever Darcy tugged her from the room, or Bianca told them to go play. And he knew when Bianca was gone tomorrow they would have to discuss it but he didn't know how to approach the topic so instead he smiled. "Go on, Darcy is probably eating all the popcorn" He joked light heartedly.

April smiled a little, kissing her mother's cheek before leaving the room in a hurry.

Bianca looked up at Heath, kissing his lips softly. "Thankyou"

Heath grinned. "You're welcome" He kissed her lips a little more firmly as though he was wanted her.

^..^

"Ruby" Brax placed his hand on the front doorhandle, holding it closed as he waited for his daughter to make eye contact which she did. "You are going to apologize to Nicole for what you said before"

Ruby shook her head. "No, I'm not. I said the right thing"

Brax exhaled, he felt like he'd was saying the words for the hundredth time. "No Ruby, you didn't. You hurt Nicole's feelings"

Ruby scowled at her dad's stern look. "I'll apologize later"

Charlie walked out of the kitchen at the sound of the front door, Ruby standing in the doorway smiling brightly at her. "Hi mum!"

Charlie smiled slightly. "Hi baby, why don't you get a start on your homework, I need to talk to your father"

Ruby rolled her eyes as she walked towards the hallway. "Bout Nicole" She muttered sulkily as she slipped out of sight.

Charlie placed her hands on her hips, glancing at Brax. "What the hell happen? Nicole came home in tears, and all I was able to get out of her was Ruby said some horrible things"

Brax placed his keys on the table beside the front door. "Ruby told Nicole I only pretend to love her because she's always around. I took her to the diner so we could chat about it and apparently she thinks I can't love three children equally and as the middle child she will be the forgotten one"

Charlie sighed. "That's ridiculous, you told her that right?"

Brax rubbed his head. "Of course but she doesn't believe me, or doesn't want to believe me"

"I knew something like this would happen, but I actually expected it to be Nicole that hated the idea of a baby"

Brax grimaced at that thought. "After what Ruby said I won't be surprised if that's the next thing we have to deal with"

"You should talk to Nicole, I'll deal with Ruby" Charlie shook her head, thinking of her brunette daughter. "She's stubborn and the only way to deal with an issue like this is to face it head on and tell her how it's going to be"

Brax smirked slightly at the sight of this future wife, mother of his girls standing with a stubborn bossy look on her face; it was what he recognized as mother mode. "Okay, ma'am. I will be with Nicole" He saluted cheekily before walked down the hall.

…

"Nicole" Brax called her name as he opened the door; his face crumbling at the sight of her curled up on the bed under the covers, her face red and tear stained, eyes puffy from crying. His heart broke when she took one look at him before rolling over to face the wall, her stuffed bear she'd had since a baby cuddled in her arms. "Sweetheart"

"Go away" Nicole sniffled.

Brax shut the bedroom door before shuffling across room and sitting on the edge of the bed, Charlie's approach to Ruby was one he couldn't take with Nicole. The blonde took things to heart where the brunette would mostly brush things off. "I'm not going anywhere Nic, not even if I have to sit here for the rest of my life" Brax told her. "I just want to talk to you"

Nicole shook her head. "I don't want to talk. You should be with Ruby"

"No" Brax told her. "Come on, sit up and let me look at you" Brax helped her to sit up, cringing at the sight of complete hopelessness on her face. "How about we stop those tears?"

Nicole ducked her head down, not looking at him. "I…"

Brax exhaled, he was no good at these talks, the look on Nicole's face made him want to pick her up and cuddle her. "I want you to know what Ruby said isn't the truth. I do love you; I love you because you're my daughter"

"My own dad didn't love me" Nicole mumbled.

Brax reached forward and tilted her chin up, wiping the tears away with his thumb. "We'll he's an idiot. You're a smart, beautiful, amazing young girl who I am proud to call my daughter. And no matter what anyone tells you, that will always be the truth. Okay?"

Nicole blushed slightly at the compliment. "But Ruby…"

Brax opened his arms and Nicole scrambled across the bed into them. "You leave Ruby to your mother and me. She didn't mean the things she said, she just scared about having a new baby in the house"

"Scared of how much you'll love her?" Nicole whispered.

Brax brushed his hand through her blonde hair. "Yeah, but I promise I'll love you all equally"

"Really?"

Brax kissed her head. "Really. Is that something you're worried about?"

Nicole shrugged. "I just, I'm not connected to you like Ruby and the baby are"

Brax nodded, he couldn't deny that it was the truth. "That's true but remember what I told you when I gave you this" Brax pinched the silver bracelet between his fingers. "I love you with my soul, I chose to love you and that's important"

Nicole nodded. "Can…Can I still call you dad?"

Brax felt his heart swell, then constrict, he could sense her hesitancy that the thought that she wouldn't be allowed to call him dad because of what Ruby said. "Of course you can" Brax tilted her chin up so their eyes met. "You're never calling be Brax again" He tapped her nose.

Nicole smiled. "Okay, I love you dad"

"I love you too, sweetheart"

…

"Ruby Charlotte Buckton" Charlie closed the door to her daughters room, frowning at the sight of the brunette sitting on her bed glaring out the window.

Ruby glared at her mother. "I'm a Braxton"

"That may be so, but your birth certificate says Buckton" Charlie crossed the room and crouched down in front of the ten year old, she knew how stubborn her daughter was and there was only one way for her to confront this. "Listen, your father and I are going to love the three of you children equally, you will not be forgotten. Do you understand that?"

Ruby stared at her mother. "I will be"

"No!" Charlie spoke sternly. "You're my daughter, I've never forgotten about you, I never will and neither will your dad"

"But Nicole…"

Charlie shook her head. "Nicole is staying, and you are going to apologize. You hurt her feelings and were very rude. Ruby, your dad and I love you and nothing will ever change that"

Ruby couldn't stop the tears that ran down her cheeks as she listened to her mother. "Do you promise?"

Charlie stood up and sat on the bed beside her daughter, hugging her. "Of course I promise. I love you, Ruby. Your dad loves you"

"Are you sure?" Ruby sniffled. "He saw me be so nasty"

Charlie smiled slightly. "Nothing could change how much your dad loves you" Charlie kissed the top of Ruby's head. "You still need to apologize, and no computer time for two days"

Ruby nodded. "I'm sorry mum, I just wanted dad to love me as much as he does"

"He always will" Charlie promised. "Come on, you can help me make dinner"

"Okay" Ruby hopped off the bed. "I love you, mum"

"I love you too, Ruby"

…

"Mum, I am finished the potatoes" Ruby exclaimed as she finished mashing the potatoes that were in the pot beside her.

Charlie turned around from the stove, pausing when she saw Nicole and Brax standing in the doorway, her daughter cuddled right into his side. "Hey, you two are just in time. Dinner is almost ready" Charlie informed them.

Ruby turned around, blushing when she saw Nicole. "I'm sorry" She blurted out.

Nicole nodded, pressing into Brax's side a little more. "Okay" She whispered.

Ruby jumped down off the chair she was kneeling on. "I'm really sorry, I was horrible. I didn't mean it" She apologized.

Nicole had never been one to hold grudges so she nodded again. "It's okay Ruby, they both told me you didn't mean it" Nicole whispered.

Ruby opened her arms. "Sisters?"

Nicole nodded slightly, stepping forward to hug her. "Sisters"

^..^

Reviews:

RoRo90: I think everyone was expecting Nicole to be the one with a bad reaction to the pregnancy which is why I chose differently. I hope you like what I've done with Ruby in this chapter. And you will see more Heath and April next chapter, there is a little in this one but not much.
FanFiction.79: Hope this chapter gives you an insight as to why Ruby acted that way. Glad you enjoyed Andy's flashback.
Lazza77: I think everyone was expecting Nicole to take the news worse which was why I chose differently. Hope you enjoyed.
FrankElza: I am happy you lived the flashback and that it gave you some insight. This chapter should give you all the reasons you need about Ruby's reaction.
JS: Glad you liked my twist and the shower scene. And I am glad you are warming to Andy, you'll see more of him next chapter at Casey's birthday party. Next chapter is part three and the final part before we more on to more exciting things!

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