Braxton. 54: Thank you for the review, it's good that Liv was returned to her mum. I'm glad you like the Brax and Ricky scenes in this story.


Abuse.

Chapter

Ricky knew that getting drunk had been stupid of her, and she realised as well as her homework she had yet to complete, she had exams coming up and she wanted to do well in them, not just for her but for Liv as well. She messaged Roo to see if she was free to help her study and then went in to the bedroom to get her books and notepad. When she walked back in to the kitchen, her phone, on the kitchen table, vibrated with a response from Roo.

"I'm avabile. "

"Thanks Roo" Ricky replied, switching on the kettle and getting two mugs out of the cupboard.

"What's the subject your struggling the most with?" Roo asked.

Ricky looked at the list of subjects she had to complete. The assignment on Rosa Parks"

"What do you know about her?" Asked Roo, wanting to find out if Ricky knew anything about the woman.

"Nothing, " Ricky replied.

"Let's do some research," Roo said, sipping her coffee.

Ricky opened her laptop and double clinked on the "E" icon and typed in "Rosa Parks" She made some notes and with them notes, she was going to turn them in to her assignment.

"What next?" Roo asked.

"A lifestyle presentation" Ricky said. "We have to do a presentation on life, from birth until death"

Ricky knew she'd find bits of this easy because of her pregnancy with Liv.

Roo got ready to leave, Ricky gave her a hug. "Thanks Roo, "

"It's what I'm here for, " Roo replied.

Not wanting to be stuck in the house any longer, Ricky took Brax up on his offer to meet him and Casey in the park.

Ricky pushed the pram, through the gates and up to where Brax was pushing Casey on the "grown up swing"

"Ricky" Casey called excitedly.

"Hey, mate"

"Are you going to put her in?" Brax asked, pointing to the baby swing.

"No"

"Ricky, you've got to relax with her"

"Look where that got me"

"No, you were just stupid"

Ricky stared at him, then. "Thanks, " She hissed, walking away from him.

"Ricky, wait, I'm sorry" Brax called after her.

Stupid had been what Andrew had called her.

"Stay for a bit, " Brax said catching up with her.

Ricky sat down on a bench, being careful of Liv.

"Put her in the swing, give your arms a rest"

Ricky continued to shake her head.

"Come on, hand her over, I'll take her" Brax said, Ricky carefully put Liv in to Brax's arms.

"See?" Brax said, carefully pushing the swing, not too high, Ricky could hear Liv laughing and that brought a smile to her face.

Brax looked at his watch. "Come on, Case, we better get back"

The 8 year old wined, saying he wanted to play some more.

"No, Casey, I've got to get the tea on, " He said, lifting Liv out of the swing. "Reckon, she'll sleep tonight, " He joked.

"Great" Ricky said, putting her back in the pram and putting her blanket over her. "Thanks for today, " She smiled.

"Anytime" Brax said as he watched her walk off, but she suddenly turned back. "What?" Brax asked.

"I've had an idea"

"Um?"

"How about we take a photo?"

"Um, I dunno, Ricky. " Brax wasn't keen on the idea.

"Please, Brax"

"Oh, alright, " Brax said as he watched Ricky get her camera bag off the pram handles.

"Hang on, if you suggested it, you should be in it" Brax said.

"Who'll take it?" Ricky asked.

"I'll take it" Said a woman's voice.

"Mum, " Ricky said, handing over her camera.

Clare switched on the camera as Ricky sat beside Brax, who had one arm around her, the other around his brother, her little girl in her mum's lap.

Click.

Clare handed the camera back to her daughter.

Ricky looked at the picture; Brax's arms around her, the other around Casey, and Liv in her lap, they really did look like a happy family.

"Do you want a copy?" Ricky asked, Brax as he helped her with the pram.

"I want to say something " Said Clare. "I'm willing to give you $10,000, if you give Olivia to me? I heard about you getting drunk, she needs a stable home"

"She's got one " Ricky said.

"Come on, Ricky" Brax said. "I'll walk you home"

"OK"

It didn't take long for Brax to reach Ricky's house and he unlocked the door.

Ricky looked up at Brax. "I don't want to lose, her, Brax"

"You won't, I promise" He told her, kissing her forehead, it seemed that when they overcome one problem, another one popped up.