WOW! Thank you so much for the reviews/comments about the last chapter, as I said I was apprehensive about it so it meant an EXTRA WHOLE LOAD that you guys liked it. It almost makes me scared to put up anymore chapters because I really don't want to disappoint. Anyway thank you again and hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading xxxx

Chapter 26

Brax and Charlie had spent the last couple of days together at home sometimes alone, sometimes with Heath, Casey and Ruby. Things had started to get better, this particular morning they had decided to all go to the diner for breakfast. Charlie hadn't really been out much so today was a good step in the right direction. As they walked from their cars to the diner Brax took Charlie's hand and led the way. As they entered Charlie was greeted with a big smile from Irene who came out from behind the counter and engulfed her in a hug.

"Darl it's so good to see you" Irene said pulling back from the hug

"You too Irene, I'm so happy for you about the cancer being in remission?" Charlie said

"Thanks love, tough as old boots me." Irene replied

"Hey Charlie" Leah said coming out from the kitchen with plates in her hand

"Right stay there, let me of load these plates" Leah said rushing to a table to give them their food. Rushing back Leah embraced her friend.

"It's good to see you out and about" Leah told her friend

"Yeah, sorry about that. Really needed to sort my head out"

"Don't be silly, no need to be sorry. How you feeling?"

"Better" Charlie replied

"I'm feeling hungry, can we order already before my stomach eats itself" Heath interrupted

"Hey gets some manners" Brax said as he hit his brother over the head

"Nah it's alright, I can't take a hungry Heath lets feed him quick. Leah we'll catch up properly later" Charlie said to her friend giving her one last hug before they went to find a table. After a few minutes of sitting at the table Colleen made her way over to take their orders.

"Nice to see you looking so well, what a horrible incident to happen and in your own home as well" Coleen said

"Why thanks Coleen, can we order please" Charlie said not really wanting to hear whatever next colleen may have to say. She knew that she wasn't malicious but Colleen had the tendency to say things that were best left unsaid.

"Ummm yeah what can I get you?" Colleen replied deciding to keep anything else she had to say to herself due to the glares she was receiving from Brax and Ruby.

Breakfast had been a quiet event with a few people coming over to say hi to Charlie. After they had finished breakfast Casey and Ruby went to the farm to hang out with Dex, Sasha, Xavier and April. Heath had a few things he had to sort out so left Brax and Charlie at the diner.

"So what do you want to do today?" Bras asked leaning back in his seat

"You're going to work, and I got something I need to go do"

"It's alright we can do it together" Brax replied not really liking the idea of leaving Charlie on her own. She hadn't been out on her own since he had found her on the beach crying. Although things had been good and they had been talking about things he was still apprehensive about her being out on her own.

"You need to go check in on Angelo's you haven't been in there for days now Brax. Plus I need to get used to being out on my own and now's a good a time as any" Looking at Brax's worried face Charlie tried her best to make him a bit easier to the idea.

"Look I've got my phone with me, if at any point I feel overwhelmed or need you I will call you, I promise. Please just trust me this is just something I need to do alone" Charlie said taking his hands in hers.

"You call me straight away if anything happens okay" Brax said giving in

"I swear"

"Okay, come on lets go pay the bill and go" Brax said pulling her up with him and going to the counter.

Charlie decided to take a walk before heading to her location. As she got to a bench she decided to sit for a while, looking out to the sea she didn't realise the figure approaching her.

As Bianca walked she was lost in thought about recent events, she had heard from Liam about the ceremony on the beach they had done for Charlie to help with her with her pain about losing her baby. Knowing it wasn't about her Bianca couldn't help but feel disappointed that she wasn't able to be there for Charlie. She had held back with approaching Charlie because she had heard that emotionally she wasn't doing well, plus with not being welcome at the house by Brax she hadn't really had much of an opportunity to try heal the rift between her and her once best friend since she hadn't been around the bay.

As she walked along Bianca couldn't believe her eyes as she caught sight of Charlie sitting on a bench looking out to the beach. Bianca hadn't seen Charlie since she was unconscious and comatose in the hospital. Taking a deep breath she powered on towards where Charlie sat.

"Hi" Bianca said not really knowing what else to say

Looking up to the voice that interrupted her thoughts Charlie laid eyes on Bianca standing before her.

"Hi" Charlie replied back as she turned to look back to the sea.

Not really knowing what to do Bianca decided to take a seat on the bench.

"How are you feeling?" Bianca asked

"Better" Charlie said as she fiddled with her fingers

"Did the ceremony on the beach help? Liam told me about it"

"Yeah it helped" Charlie replied taking a deep breath

"I would have come but….." as Bianca spoke Charlie cut her off

"It was for family and friends and right now you don't really fit into any category" Charlie replied turning to look at Bianca. Taking in the upset look in Bianca's eyes Charlie carried on with what she had to say.

"I'm not saying this to hurt you but it's true. We weren't friends before I was shot and I haven't seen you since that morning at the diner. The last time I spoke to you, you told me good luck in the city and goodbye. If Jake hadn't shot me I'd be in the city, we would have both been getting on with our lives separately"

"I know" Bianca replied not being able to dispute what Charlie had said

"But Charlie after you called me Liam made me realise that I was being selfish, I was blaming you for things that were out of your control. I was just so angry and I let it cloud my judgement, I am so sorry for the way I treated you and I will never forgive myself for speaking to you the way I did when you was calling me for help."

"Bianca I did miss you, you were one of my closet friends and for you to be able to discard our friendship like that so quickly and easily it hurt a lot. I begged you Bianca to sort things out with me but you weren't interested. This here right now it feels so awkward and it hurts that that's the way it is right now especially when we were such great friends… best friends. But right now I only got enough in me to deal with one thing at a time, so this….. getting our friendship back on track is going to have to wait. "

"I understand anything I can help with?" Bianca asked

"This is something I got to face on my own, but thank you for the offer." Charlie said as she got up from the bench.

"I've got to get going, see you around Bianca" Charlie said as she walked off.

As Bianca sat she was relieved at the way the conversation had went, although they hadn't instantly jumped back into being friends the promise of that happening was there and she was happy about that.

Charlie made the familiar journey to her destination, has she made her way to the house she took deep calming breaths. Walking the familiar path she walked past the kitchen window and braced herself on the window seal, bowing her head down and taking more calming breaths Charlie braced herself.

"You can do this" she told herself out loud as she pushed herself of the window seal. Walking to the door she stopped and put her key in, slowly she turned the key in the lock then twisted the door handle. Slowly she pushed the door open, holding onto the handle she took a few hesitant steps into the house until she came to the kitchen table. As walked further she paused as a thought came to her mind, remembering that it was the spot Jake stood in as he raised his gun to shoot her. Feeling a bit wobbly on her feet Charlie willed herself to continue on in her path. Walking into the front room her feet took her to the spot she remembered laying in bleeding. As she kneeled down to sit down where she once lay bleeding she noticed that Leah had had the carpet changed. Sitting Charlie took deep breaths to calm her, this was her home and Jake had already taken so much from her already she wasn't going to let him make her afraid to come into the house. A house that held may have held a horrible memory but also held good ones as well.

As Brax dealt with the lunch time rush he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he had spent most of the day with Charlie on his mind wondering what she was doing and if she was okay. He was happy that she was coming back to her old self, the fact that she was confident to go out on her own was a good sign but he couldn't help but worry. After all that had happened he just wanted to keep her safe and happy. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone and read the message.

I'm at Leah's can you come and meet me, C xxx

As Brax stuffed his phone back in his pocket he told one his staff he had something to take care of and rushed off. Thoughts ran through Brax's mind as to why she was at the house, remembering the last time they had gone there he was hoping she was okay. Brax was there in a matter of minutes, as he ran out of his car and slammed the door he quickly made his way to the back door. Seeing it already open he stepped in and spotted Charlie sitting on the floor in the same place him, Ruby, and Casey had found her. Brax was surprised by the over whelming feeling he had felt at the thought and the memory of that afternoon.

"That's where he stood" Charlie said to Brax as she looked up at him after being alerted of his entrance

"What?" Brax asked confused

"Jake, he stood right there and shot me. That's where he stood; I remember the look in his eyes, the expression on his face, the sound of his voice…."

"Charlie" Brax said as he went to sit beside her

"No, I'm alright. That hate he had, where did it get him. Because of him his brother is dead, he put Hammer in that position by telling him to kidnap me and kill the both of us. His hate as got him nowhere because I'm still here and he isn't. I'm still here Brax and I'm not letting what he did stop me from being able to come here. I refuse to let him make me scared to come here"

Pulling Charlie into his arms Brax kissed her on the head as he held her close.

"I'm so proud of you, you've got a whole load of people that would have come with you today but you faced it on your own."

"I felt like I had to" Charlie said turning to look at Brax "You've been so strong for me lately, all of you but I felt I had to do this by myself. This is my home and I'm not letting Jake make me scared to come into it"

"So what does this mean for us?" Brax asked

"What do you mean?"

"Living arrangements"

"What you sick of me already" Charlie asked jokingly

"No, I just now that you feel you can come into the house again are you going to be moving back in?" Brax questioned

"Do you want me to move back in to Leah's?"

"No! Right now we'd be living together in the city and after what has happened I want you with me in my home in my bed every night. I don't ever want to be away from you, you not living with me it just wouldn't feel right"

"Smooth Braxton" Charlie replied blushing. "Let's play it by ear yeah; I'm not in no rush to move back so let's just see how it goes." Charlie replied kissing him gently on the lips

"What about the city?"

"I haven't really given it much thought"

"How about we put it on hold, I think right now being around friends and family is what's needed"

"I think your right. So how about we get out of here" Charlie replied

"Come on I'll shout you lunch" Brax said as he got to his feet and pulled Charlie to hers as well.

As they made their way out of the house and Charlie locked the door she smiled to herself proud that she was able to go back into the house. Happy that she had Brax with her in her life and happy for all the wonderful friends and family that she had surrounding her, helping her. With them together she felt that they could face anything.

As Brax and Charlie entered Angelo's they caught sight of Ruby, Casey, Xavier, Sasha, April and Dex sitting in one of the booths eating pizza.

"I think we should talk to Casey and Ruby about the city" Charlie said as she led Brax to their table.

"Hey guys" Charlie said as she got to their table. "Can we borrow Casey and Ruby for a second please?"

"Is everything alright" Ruby said instantly getting up worried

Laughing at her Charlie replied "Yeah everything's fine, stop worrying." Taking her hand Charlie lead her onto the balcony as Brax and Casey followed.

"So what up guys" Casey asked as they all stood.

"I just wanted to ask how you felt about us staying in the bay, after everything's that happened it would be good to be around friends and family." Brax told the pair

"You had me worried there; I've already deferred my year at uni. This whole thing has been a nightmare; I think staying in the bay is a good idea." Ruby replied

"Ruby I don't want you putting your life and plans on hold because of me" Charlie said to her daughter feeling guilty

"I'm not, a part of it is for me. I lost you, and my whole world came tumbling down it's not a feeling that's easily forgotten. A lot of stuff came back to me in that time, a lot to reflect on things from the past, so right now I just want to be with my mum. And you know what a year away from study would be a nice break" Ruby said with a laugh as Charlie pulled her in for a hug

"And you Casey" Brax asked

"Works out good for me, I get to have you guys around and I'll finish of my HSC. Now that's sorted can we go back in before Xavier wolfs down all the pizza"

"Come on then" Ruby said as she took her boyfriend's hand and walked back into Angelo's to be greeted my an angry Heath.

"Brax" Heath called out as he made his way to his brother

"What's got you so mad" Brax asked as his brother made his way to him

"I need your help, Darcy's missing" Heath replied getting more wound up and upset

"Okay calm down, what happened?" Brax asked leading his brother out onto the balcony where Charlie, Ruby and Casey followed.

Running his hands over his face Heath tried to calm himself.

"Her nan called me and told me she was missing, she didn't come home after her summer school club" Heath said pacing

"Okay so that must have finished what an hour ago, she may have gone to a friend's house or…. " as Brax tried to find a reason as to why Darcy may not have gone straight home Heath cut him off.

"Brax yesterday, she didn't go home from her club yesterday afternoon. Her nan only just told me today"

"Have the police been informed" Charlie asked

"She said she called them and they're looking into it. What if something bad happened to her? Why didn't she tell me sooner" Heath said getting angrier by the second

"Okay Brax you and Heath take Heath's car and go look for all the possible places you think she could be at. Casey and Ruby take Brax's car and just go for a drive round the bay and Mangrove River see if you can spot Darcy. Heath we'll find her, the police are probably out looking for her now."

"She's just a kid Buckton, she's spent the night God knows where" Heath said

"Hey bro she's a Braxton, we'll find her and she'll be alright" Brax said to his brother trying to keep him positive.

"Hey we heard what's going on, we'll go out as well and see if we can find her" Xavier said as he, April, Sasha and Dex stood by the entrance to the balcony.

"Thanks mate" Heath said as he went to go look for Darcy "Brax come on" he shouted as he made his way down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Brax asked Charlie as they made their way downstairs

"I'm going to check back at the house she may have made her way their then I'm going to have a look around." Giving him a quick kiss on the lips Charlie went to her car hoping that they found her before dark.