Author's note: Many thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed, read, and marked as a favourite, this story so far. Enjoy the next installment.

Chapter 2

Six months passed by quickly. Ricky and Brax had their hands full with their two month old twins, whilst Casey was currently sitting on the couch bored out of his mind as he rolled his head around in circles, trying to curb his boredom.

Suddenly his tablet dinged and he looked to see that it was Kyle sending a video call, and he instantly perked up.

"Brax, it's Kyle on video chat; can I talk to him?" Casey called out.

Brax was in the kitchen giving Rhianna her bottle and popped his head out.

"You know I told you he was the only exception!"

Casey then pressed the answer button.

"What took you so long to answer? How are you going little bro?" Kyle greeted.

"I'm so bored Ky; I've been grounded for a month and Brax isn't allowing me to do anything," Casey huffed and drawled out, "I'm just stuck doing extra chores and it's so boring."

Kyle raised his brow.

"Whose fault is that?" Brax stated as he walked back out to place Rhianna back in the crib.

"Well it's not mine; I didn't ground myself," Casey grumbled.

Kyle shook his head at his little brother, as Brax raised his eyebrow.

"Really; you're seriously going to pull that one on me? You did the crime, now you do the time," Brax warned and picked up Seb from the crib.

"I still think it's unfair you grounded me for a month," Casey grumbled under his breath.

Brax shook his head and as he went to take his son to the kitchen for his bottle he stopped behind the couch and greeted Kyle.

"Hi Kyle, how's the UK going? You haven't gone to anymore of those parties have you?" Brax warned.

"Hi Brax, it's been good and no I haven't, so stop worrying. School has been hectic. I had an exam yesterday but I think I done pretty well, and along with a few of my friends in my class, Justine and Mikey, the three of us devised this study group where we hang out and help each other study for exams and assessments," Kyle explained.

Brax nodded proudly.

"Well, continue to make us proud won't you and while you're at it talk some sense into Casey here and tell him not to get into trouble and stop complaining about his grounding," Brax said as he eyed his youngest brother.

Kyle chuckled; never understanding how Casey could make life so difficult sometimes.

"How are the twins?" Kyle asked; changing the subject from school.

"Smelly as ever," Casey grumbled, only to receive a quick flick on the back of the head from his older brother.

"They are doing fine. Rhianna had a slight fever the other day, but it turned out she just had a mild stomach upset," Brax explained.

"And how is Ricky going?"

"She's well. Just got back into photography again and landed herself a job; she's out today doing that. We take turns looking after the twins."

"When is it my turn to talk? Kyle will run out of time and I won't get to say nothing," Casey complained.

Brax rolled his eyes.

"Alright Casey; it's your turn. I have to go feed Seb anyway. Remember to stay safe and keep your head in those books," Brax warned.

"You tell me that every time Brax. I will. Talk to you later."

Casey watched Brax finally leave the room.

"About time," Casey grumbled.

Kyle put his full attention back on Casey.

"So, what's going on? Why the hostility with Brax? What did you do Casey?" Kyle asked.

Casey stared down not wanting to repeat what happened after having to explain it all to Brax only days before but continued.

"I got into a fist-fight with a guy in my class because he called me dumb because I didn't pass the spot quiz we had in class. Brax had to come and pick me up from school because I got suspended for a week and so Brax gave me this huge lecture about keeping my temper in check and focusing better on my grades instead of what others are saying and I just snapped and told him I was no good at school and that it was just a waste of time and he should stop hassling me about it because it was all bullsh-"

"Casey, you better not be repeating that word again!" Brax yelled out a warning, from his place in the kitchen, causing Casey to gulp and let out a sigh before continuing his story.

"Well you get it; I swore at him and he said if I ever said words like that again, or even spoke to him in that way again he'd make me rinse my mouth with the vinegar. Told me I should be lucky he didn't make me do that this time," Casey grumbled.

Kyle scrunched up his nose.

"Yuck! Casey, that's disgusting! You know that wasn't bound to end well," Kyle laughed.

"I know it is disgusting, Kyle! Don't you remember he made me do it when I was ten and repeated that really bad and dirty word I heard from someone in the street?"

"Yeah I remember the look on his face when you said it too; I thought he was going to explode and he looked as if he'd seen a ghost," Kyle laughed.

Brax had been furious but such in shock that day and after having given Casey a stern lecture on never repeating such a word, he made him rinse his mouth with the bitter vinegar, twice.

However in typical Brax style once it was done, Brax pulled the unhappy Casey into a tight hug and didn't let go until his baby brother had stopped crying and was alright.

"Everything I ate for the rest of that night tasted like that horrible vinegar, it wasn't funny Kyle," Casey grumbled as Kyle continued to laugh.

"Sorry Case; I know it wasn't. Brax gave me a lecture too, you know, because you said that word around me and he was worried I'd repeat it too."

Casey frowned, "Really?"

"Yes really," Kyle clarified.

"His face was pretty funny though," Casey mumbled after a moment, and joined in with Kyle's laughter.

"I guess you never learn? Why'd you even swear again this time Case?"

"I couldn't help it Ky, it just slipped out. I guess I was just mad at being called dumb and then Brax yelling at me on top of that," Casey explained with a shrug of his shoulders, as Kyle shook his head.

"This all just sucks. It's not fair. I mean I'm practically fifteen!"

"You're not fifteen for another four months Casey," Kyle stated.

"Close enough. But I'm still too old to be grounded and threatened with the vinegar," Casey complained.

"Trust me Casey; in Brax's books you are never too old to be dealing with his consequences. Just last week when I called Brax, I made the mistake of telling him I had a small alcoholic drink and after he told me of the responsibilities and of me still being underage, he said I'd be grounded and that he didn't care if I'd be an adult when I returned home he'd still ground me because I had a drink underage."

Casey's mouth was a gape.

"But you're almost eighteen."

Kyle nodded, "You see my point?"

Casey groaned and flopped back on the couch.

"Well, at least I'd have you in my corner, especially when it's time to nag about getting my new surfboard. He's still going on at me about what happened to my old one."

"What did you say?"

"Said I accidently left it at the beach and it got stolen. No way was I going to say what really happened, and you said you wouldn't either."

"I won't Casey; I promised you, it was our secret. Anyway, what makes you honestly think I have any sway with Brax? I just told you he still lectures me," Kyle laughed.

"Yeah but he likes you; you're smart," Casey replied.

"Casey, he likes you too," Kyle implied with assurance.

"Yeah, but I'm not smart, so can't use that against him. He'd listen to you. Besides it would be two against one; he'd have to give."

Kyle shook his head in disbelief.

"I take it he can't hear you and your wild imagination?"

Casey looked into the kitchen.

"No, I think he's left to get something from the bedroom. Well I hope he hasn't heard. I don't really feel like getting into any more trouble," Casey said with a nervous laugh.

Kyle glanced down at the time on his tablet.

"I'm sorry Case, but I have to finish up. It's getting late and I have to get a bit more study in and some homework finished for tomorrow. It's been good talking with you, Case. Please try to stay on Brax's good side won't you?" Kyle said, ending with a firm request.

"I try, but you know it's not always that easy when he can be so hard and unfair," Casey pleaded and gave Brax a hard glare as the oldest returned to the room with his son.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, Casey," Brax muttered with an unimpressed tone and placed Seb down in the crib.

Casey flopped back on the couch and groaned.

"I can't wait until you come back home Ky, then I wouldn't be on my own having to deal with him all the time," Casey grunted and pointed his thumb towards Brax, as Brax walked behind the couch and ruffled Casey's hair as he smirked.

"You see what I have to deal with? Dirty nappies and crying babies, is nothing compared to what this one puts me through," Brax retaliated and rested his hands on Casey's shoulders, giving them a squeeze.

Kyle shook his head at his two brothers; why did he always have to mediate between them?

"You're right Brax, I can really see the grey hairs forming," Kyle answered sarcastically.

"Oi: watch it Kyle!" Brax warned and pointed a finger at his little brother on the screen.

Casey clapped his hands together and let out a loud laugh.

"Good one, Kyle; grey hair. Ha! You are right, I can see the grey hair; just there," Casey teased and pointed his finger behind him towards Brax's hair.

Both boys knew how sensitive Brax could get sometimes about his age, so loved teasing him about it.

"You: shoosh, before I think up some unpleasant task for you to do whilst your grounded," Brax ordered jokingly towards Casey, whilst giving him a firm eyebrow raise and gently slapping his hand away.

Casey silenced down but couldn't stop smirking from Kyle's remark.

"I do not have grey hair," Brax mumbled.

Kyle gave a final chuckle, "I really have to go guys. I miss you both so much!"

Kyle waved and ended his video chat call.

"Now where were we?" Brax asked his littlest brother.

"You're not really going to make me do something really unpleasant are you; I was just joking?" Casey groaned.

"Relax, Casey. I'm not as hard as you think I am, but seeing as you're still bored it's a beautiful day outside for the lawn to be mowed, so up you get."

Casey pulled his limp body up from the couch and headed outside towards the shed and wheeled out the lawnmower.

"And don't you even think about working at snail's pace just to spend time outside; I know you Casey!" Brax called out from his position at the back door.

Casey rolled his eyes and started up the lawnmower as Brax returned inside to go and play with his twins.