Ahhh, guys, I'm really sorry for the HUGE gap between updates, I've just been super busy lately and haven't found much time or motivation at all to write. I hope I still have some readers, haha!

Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon & I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 39.

-2 weeks later.-

Charlie had slowly managed to get her life back on track since meeting Liam. They had been on two dates since they had last met, and were now, officially dating.

Charlie still hadn't managed to repair her friendship with Bianca as of yet, although, she spent several minutes each day, trying to figure out how to fix things, and what to say to her. Each time, she came up with nothing.

Charlie hadn't seen much of Brax over the duration of those two weeks. She was pleased to see that after their day out, he and Ruby had managed to repair their relationship, but she could tell he was staying away from her because he had discovered what was going on in her love-life. She had thought about making contact with him, but as they had already agreed on being friends, she decided against it. Knowing that talking to him inevitably meant justifying her new relationship, which was likely to end in an argument.

All of those reasons, added to Charlie's surprise, when she opened the front door of her house, to find Brax standing on the other side.

Charlie gulped, "Hi."

"Hey," Brax tried to suppress his grin at the mixture of shock and horror etched across Charlie's face.

"I haven't seen you in a while." Charlie muttered.

"You haven't made the effort to talk to me," Brax retorted.

"The same could be said for you," Charlie spat.

Brax exhaled, "I thought we were trying the whole 'friends' thing?"

"We are."

"Does that not involve talking to each other, instead of avoiding each other?"

"I can't be the one to instigate everything, Brax. I've been busy."

"Right," Brax laughed, "With your new boyfriend, eh?"

"I wanted to tell you, but-"

"Heath got there first, yeah. I know."

"How are things between you two anyway?"

"Don't change the subject."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise we were discussing my love-life?"

"Just answer me this. Are you on the rebound?"

Charlie's jaw dropped at his words, "Excuse me? I am not on the rebound, for goodness sake, Brax. I'm getting over you, can't you just leave me alone?"

"I can't leave you alone, Charlie. I want you. You want me too, I know you do."

Charlie's eyes widened at his statement, she attempted to slam the door shut, but Brax stuck his foot in it, preventing her from doing so. Placing his hands on the door, he pushed it open again and stepped into her house, "You're awfully arrogant tonight, Darryl." Charlie scowled.

"Sorry," Brax admitted sheepishly, "I'm just trying to make you understand."

"Understand what?" Charlie asked; her voice much softer than before.

"That I still lo-" Brax stopped mid-word, choosing to opt for a different one, "Care about you." he finished.

"And I care about you too, but I can't keep living like this Brax. You mean a lot to me, and I want us to be friends, but you're making it difficult."

"I can make it easier... but it depends."

"On what?" Charlie asked, watching as Brax raised his gaze to meet hers. She glowered at him, awaiting an answer.

"On if you keep seeing Liam, or not."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Just answer me," Brax snapped.

"Yes, I am going to keep seeing him."

"Do you think I could change your mind by taking you out on a proper date?"

"No," Charlie shook her head, "Because I have a boyfriend, which means I can't and I won't go on dates with other men."

"Do you even like him?"

"Of course I like him."

"As much as me?"

Charlie hesitated, "I haven't known him for that long yet."

"Is that a no?"

Again, she hesitated, "No, it's an 'I'll get back to you when I know'."

"He's not me, Charlie. That's your problem."

"You think that's a bad thing?" Charlie laughed, "At least I know he won't cheat on me, kiss my best friend and lie to me at every chance he gets to cover his tracks, hey?"

"Fine." Brax spat viciously. Charlie instantly recognised his foul tone was to cover the fact that he was hurting, "I hope you two are very happy together," he added spitefully before he stormed off.

Charlie released the breath she had been holding before she closed the front door, and walked back into the living room.

x-x

That evening, Charlie walked across the beach, her eyes scanning the scenery for Liam.

Her heart plummeted when she heard scuffling and yelling from just in front of her. She walked a little closer, and almost instantly recognised it as Brax and Liam fighting.

"Stop it!" She yelled as she ran toward them. She stopped short of them as Liam punched Brax in the face, sending him flying to the ground, "Liam, stop... stop it!" Charlie screamed as she watched her boyfriend climb on top of Brax and punch him continuously.

She ran forward and tried to push him off Brax, only for him to push her away, "Don't touch her!" Brax growled, sending a violent punch Liam's way, he knocked him down, before he got up and ran over to Charlie, "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Brax questioned as he stood before her.

Charlie shook her head, unable to find any words at the state he was in. She reached up and rested her hand on his cheek, only for him to wince in pain, "Are you okay?" Charlie asked shakily.

"I'm okay," Brax nodded, closing his eyes for a second, he cherished the feeling of Charlie's touch against his skin.

"Look what he's done to you." Charlie whispered, she stepped forward as she ran her fingers along the contours of his face, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Charlie."

"Well forgive me for not believing you, Brax, but you sure as hell don't look it!" She took a deep breath as she removed her hand from his face, "Who started this?"

"Does it matter?" Brax asked.

"Don't make me ask you again." Charlie sighed, a pleading tone to her voice.

"Me," Brax admitted shyly, moving his gaze from Charlie, out to the sea.

"Why? Brax, please, can't you just be happy for me? Let me move on."

"I can try, if this is what you really want, I can try, for you. But I don't think you get how much I miss you."

"I get it, believe me I do," Charlie took a deep breath, "Because I miss you too, so much. And Brax I really wish things could be different, that I could trust you again, but I can't. Too many times have I been naive enough to believe that you can change, and you can't, I was stupid to think I could change you. You don't do love, you don't do relationships, it's not you."

"You're wrong. I can do love, I can do all of those things, you changed me, Charlie, you did."

"No, Brax. I thought I did, but I haven't."

"What then? You think I'm always only in it for the sex?"

"It would explain things with Natalie."

"It did nothing for me, Charlie, nothing. I can be who you want me to be."

"You can't, Brax, you've already proven that." Charlie turned to look as Liam stumbled to his feet and made his way toward them, "You're a good guy, Brax, but I'm not the girl for you."

Brax shook his head before he raised his gaze to meet Charlie's, he could see all the pain he had caused her inside them, and he didn't have it in him to cause her anymore. He gave a gentle nod of the head before he turned around, and made his way off the beach.

x-x

Charlie smiled as she walked off the beach, and toward the Surf Club, to see Heath sitting down outside, a grin on his face, "What's gotten you in such a good mood?" Charlie laughed as she snuck up behind him, making him jump.

"Nothing much," Heath shrugged, although the grin on his face still remained.

"I know it's something, so go on, spill the beans."

"Well, I don't know if you'll see it as good news or not, but Bianca and I are back on track."

Charlie raised her eyebrows, alarmed, "What? Really?"

"Yeah," Heath nodded, "I love her and... well, there's not much else to it."

Charlie smiled, "I never thought I'd hear Heath Braxton feeling so strongly about a woman."

Heath laughed, "Well, you Summer Bay ladies make a habit of changing us Braxtons." Charlie's smile faded at his comment, "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Charlie smiled, "I saw him last night."

"Oh?" Heath arched his left eyebrow.

"Yeah, he had a fight."

"No way, with who?"

"Who do you think?" Charlie gave a little laugh, "Liam."

"Why?" Heath frowned.

"I never found out," Charlie sighed, "We just talked about things, I tried to make him understand, but I'm still not sure if he does or not."

"Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No, it's fine." Charlie shook her head, "He'll come around soon enough."

"So, strictly speaking, you two are friends, right?"

"I suppose, yeah." Charlie nodded.

"Do you think that maybe you could talk to Bianca? I understand if you don't want to, it's just- I know she's taking all of this really hard, and she needs her best friend right now."

"Needs me for what?"

"I uh- I think you should talk to her about this."

"Heath, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong... it's just- please, Charlie, talk to Bianca about it."

"Alright, I will." Charlie nodded, she looked up and sighed as Bianca walked out of the Surf Club, carrying two juices, "Ah, I'm interrupting something?"

"Nah," Heath shook his head, "I'll get mine to go, you two can talk."

Charlie watched as he stood up and made his way over to Bianca, he mentioned a few words to her before he took his juice from her hands, kissed her cheek and walked down to the beach.

"Hi," Charlie gave a friendly smile to Bianca as she nervously sat down opposite her friend.

"Hey," Bianca returned Charlie's smile, "Look, Charlie, about everything, I am so, so sorry."

"It's fine, I get it."

"But it isn't fine, Charlie. What you said on the beach, you were right. I know you've been through so much, I know you have commitment issues, and that Brax is one of very few guys you've let in, so I can't even apologise enough for what I did, we both betrayed your trust and I'm sorry."

"That means a lot, Bianca, thanks."

Bianca smiled before taking a sip of her juice, "Heath tells me you're seeing someone else now."

Charlie's cheeks flushed a slight shade of pink, "Eh, yeah. His name's Liam."

"I'm glad that you're happy."

Charlie tucked a strand of her behind her ear as she inhaled sharply, yes she was happy, but she wasn't as happy as she was when she was with Brax, and she wasn't sure if she ever would be again without him.

"Are you okay, Bianca? You look a little off, no offence."

"None taken," Bianca giggled, "I've been a little sick lately."

"Oh?" Charlie frowned, "It's nothing serious, is it? Because Heath said before that I should talk to you and-"

"I'm pregnant, Charlie." Bianca interrupted.

Charlie's mouth fell open at her friend's admission, "P-pregnant?" Charlie stuttered.

"Yeah," Bianca bit her lip, trying to suppress her growing smile.

"Congratulations." Charlie smiled.

"You're happy for me?" Bianca asked, surprised.

"Of course I am, you're having a baby." Charlie answered excitedly, a smile on her face.

"It's early days and everything, but I've always said to myself that if I ever got pregnant, I wanted somebody who meant the world to be to be godmother, so will you, Charlie? Will you be my baby's godmother?"

"Of course I will!" Charlie shrieked before she stood up and engulfed her best friend in a firm hug, "I've missed you." Charlie muttered as Bianca wrapped her arms around her.

"I've missed you too."

x-x

That evening, Charlie had decided to go and pay Brax a visit, congratulate him on becoming an uncle.

She smiled brightly as he opened the door, "Hey," she beamed.

"Hi." Brax laughed as Charlie bounded into his house.

"So I know you don't like wine, but I brought wine, because I like wine, and I figured that maybe we could hang out with some wine and-"

"Slow down, Charlie." Brax chuckled at her flustered appearance, "And do come in, why don't you."

"Oh I'm sorry," Charlie slowly opened and closed her mouth, resembling the actions of a goldfish, "Is it okay for me to come in?"

"Sure it is," Brax laughed, "I'm just messing with you."

"Oh, okay." Charlie giggled, making Brax smile, "Jesus, Brax. You bruised pretty badly."

"I know," Brax sighed, "How's Liam?"

"He's okay. A little more worse-for-wear than you, though."

Brax shrugged, "He's a pretty good hit too, at least I don't have to worry about him not being able to protect you, ay?"

Charlie decided to ignore part of his comment, "You're obviously better," she sighed, "You cleaned yourself up properly, right? Antiseptics and everything."

"Yes, Charlie. I knew you'd be around here to check on me," he rolled his eyes, "So what's with the wine?"

"A sort-of celebration, I was talking to Bianca earlier and she told me about the baby."

"Ah," Brax smiled, "So you two are talking again then?"

"Yeah, we're friends." Charlie smiled, "And I'm gonna be a godmother."

"She asked you? That's great!"

Charlie frowned, "You knew?"

"Well, I knew how nervous she was about asking you, in case you said no."

"Oh, I see."

Brax smiled warmly at her, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Charlie nodded, "I mean, it's just a little weird for me, that's all. Bianca and Heath are having what we could have had."

"I know the feeling," Brax nodded.

"Anyway," Charlie motioned to change the subject, "Are you excited? You're going to be an uncle?"

"Very excited," Brax chuckled, "Hopefully it'll give me practice for when I have kids of my own, ay?"

Charlie smiled, she always knew Brax would be an amazing father, and she hoped he would have children one day, even if they weren't with her, simply because she knew how much he wanted them, "With any luck, yeah. I think you're gonna be a pretty great uncle anyway." Charlie grinned.

Brax returned her grin, "Well I think you're gonna be an amazing godmother." Charlie giggled at his comment, "Do you have any plans for tonight?"

Charlie shook her head, "It's kind of the reason why I brought the wine over here."

"Oh the wine- how could I forget?" Brax teased, "I'm starving, how about we go out for something to eat?"

"Sure," Charlie smiled up at him, "Where?"

"I don't mind, wherever you want," Brax smiled back at her.

"Er, we'll just drive around and I'll tell you then."

"Alright," Brax chuckled before he picked up his keys, phone and wallet, "Let's go." He smiled, opening the front door, he stepped aside and gestured for Charlie to walk ahead of him, "After you." Charlie smiled back before walking out of the front door, Brax following close behind.

x-x