Charlie had spent most of the last night in the bathroom. Ruby and Leah had done their best to look after her but nothing seemed to help. She had gotten up early to go for a run and was now making a list of everything she needed to do in her head.
Brax felt a lump form in his throat as he saw Charlie running along the beach. Even before they got together he would cherish their early morning meetings as he knew it was the one time that she was guaranteed to talk to him. He felt his heart beat faster when he noticed a tiny baby bump showing under her tight clothes.
"Hi" he said nervous as she ran up to him. "Ah how are you today?"
Charlie could tell straight away how uncomfortable Brax was, she giving him a little smile trying to put him at ease. "I'm good, hopefully getting some fresh air will help with the morning sickness." His concern for her showed on his face start away. "I didn't think you were getting a lot, is everything ok?"
"It kicked in hard last night. And whoever called it morning sickness was dreaming, it should be called any time of the day sickness. Trust us to have a stubborn baby that likes to make his Mummy sick" she laughed as she put her hand on her stomach.
Brax reached forward to touch her but pulled back unsure if Charlie would be ok with it. Before his hand had time to make it back to his side Charlie took it in hers and put it onto her stomach. "That's our baby" she said. Brax couldn't help himself he leant forward and kissed her. He was totally amazed that not only was he going to be a father he was having a baby with someone so amazing.
Charlie sighed as their lips broke apart. "Brax we really need to talk." Brax felt like the wind had been kicked out of him, he thought what had happened yesterday was forgotten but now he realised that he was wrong. "Can we do it later I need to go home and get ready for work."
"No now is the only time I can do it, I have a meeting at head office in the city today. Sit down" she ordered. Brax stood his board up in the sand before sitting down "why have you got a meeting at head office?" Charlie sat down next to him "I have to tell them I'm pregnant. I will be on desk duty for the next 6 or so months then I'm going to take a year off after baby is born."
Brax looked at her a little shocked "you're taking a year off?" Charlie nodded "I missed everything when Ruby was a newborn and I don't want to miss anything this time. Oh and don't worry I have enough money to support myself….. I guess that's one benefit to working all the time!"
He took her hand in his "you don't need to worry about money I will support you and our baby no matter what." Seeing the look on her face he added "don't worry it will all be legal, Angelos is doing really well. It doesn't matter what happens between us I will always look after both of you." She squeezed his hand "I know you will Brax. So are you ready to talk about what happened yesterday?" Brax gazed out at the ocean dropping her hand "You know what happened Charlie you were there."
She sighed this wasn't easy for either of them but it was something that she had to do "I have never seen you like that before." Brax turned to look at her "we have been through this before you knew I was no boy scout before we got together."
"Your right but yesterday you were different. You're always in control Brax and yesterday you lost it, you really scared me." He looked into her eyes "No matter what happens Charlie I would never hit you, you know that right?" She nodded trying to hold back the tears "yes I know you would never mean to but what happens if I get in the way or I do something that makes you snap? I'm not sure I can be with you Brax until you sort it out." Neither of them said anything.
"Are you breaking up with me?" Brax finally asked. Charlie looked at him noticing tears flowing from his green eyes. "No" she took his hand "we can work on this together but you have to take the first step and go to see counsellor." He shook his head "I'm not going to see anyone, what is talking about it going to help? It doesn't change what happened." She wanted to slap some senses into him, why did he have to act like a tough guy. "You don't know until you try it" she said quietly.
"Yes I do Charlie and I'm not going to do it." Brax wasn't going to let anyone push him around. Charlie got up and turned to look at him "You should know that I have found a place for Ruby, me and the baby to move into." Brax looked at her "is there room for me in this house?" A single tear ran down her cheek "Brax I can't do this. I can't be with you until you sort this out." He grabbed her hand but she turned and walked away not dropping his hand until they could no longer reach each other.