Almost two weeks had passed and Brax had spent everyday with Charlie and the girls, making the changes he'd promised her and she couldn't be happier. Standing by the counter making coffee with a massive smile on her face she jumped as arms slid around her.
"Morning beautiful," Brax said and kissed her neck "how are we this morning?" he asked sliding his hand onto her stomach.
Charlie smiled wide and turned to face him "morning and fantastic," she said kissing him sweetly.
Brax wrapped his arms around her and looked down on her "good, when are we gonna tell the girls about the baby?" he asked, he was surprised they didn't know already.
"Once we've seen a doctor and had a scan," she said and stepped away from him "I don't wanna get their hopes up too early in ca.." she trailed off and looked down. Sighing heavily she looked over at him "in case anything happens…again."
Brax looked down quickly he still thought about the baby they'd lost the baby they wanted so much, pushing himself off the counter he walked to her "babe you can't think about that, I know its hard to forget but please don't work yourself up," he said and wrapped his arms around her. "We were under a lot of stress back then with the wedding and Angelo's and everything else," sliding his hand over her stomach he smiled down on her "everything is gonna work out for us this time I just know it."
Charlie bit on her lip begging tears to stay away, she knew he still got upset when she mentioned it "I'm sorry, I'm just over thinking," she mumbled.
"Hey," he said tilting her chin "you know you can always talk to me about it, don't be sorry, just promise me you won't spend all day thinking about it…you need to take it easy."
Charlie nodded "just as well I'm in court today," she said and stepped away from him "don't have time to sit around and think," she added and walked to two cups "I made you one to take with you…enjoy it while I have the decaf crap," she chuckled.
Brax chuckled and walked to her "best wife ever," he said and kissed her before taking it from her "thank you, so I'll see you at six?" he asked.
Charlie nodded as she grabbed her bags and keys "I'll be in court all afternoon so I'll be back at the station about five, hopefully there'll be no more paperwork waiting for me and I can just leave."
"Bye girls! See you for dinner!" Brax called up the stairs as they left.
"Bye!" Charlie called up and followed him "have a great day babe!" she called as he walked to his car.
"Hey wait!" he called before she climbed into her car, jogging to her he planted a deep kiss on her "have a great day, I love ya," he said and kissed her again before he walked to his own car.
Charlie chuckled and pulled her door open "love ya too…see ya later!" she called as she climbed in.
….
Later that afternoon Charlie was on her break from court, grabbing a tea she sat on some benches and pulled out her phone. Sitting back she called Brax "hey," she said when he answered.
"Hey babe," he said happily "how did the case this morning go?"
"Great, he got six years…not so sure about this case though the jury are gone too long," she replied.
"This is the woman that hired someone to kill her husband?" he asked.
"Yes," she chuckled "her lawyers are trying to play the she was so drunk she didn't know what she was saying card."
Brax chuckled "they'll see through that…how is your day otherwise?" he asked.
"Good Jack was here for this mornings case so I had him…are you free for an hour tomorrow?" she asked.
"Uh, should be, what time and what for?" he replied.
"Well I was onto Sid this morning he said he could see us at ten if that suited," she said.
"You're only seven weeks isn't that too soon for a scan?" he asked.
"Well yeah," Charlie replied "I know you said not to think about the other baby but Brax I can't, I am so scared it's gonna happen again and I wanted to know if he could do any sort of test and I know you get upset when I mention it but I nee-"
"Babe, babe, babe," Brax cut in trying to calm her down "relax, it's okay…ten tomorrow is fine."
"I'm sorry," she breathed out "I was gonna just go on my own but then I knew I couldn't keep it from you…the baby is on my mind and I can't shake it."
"Charlie," he said seriously "I know the baby is on your mind he's on mine too but you need to learn to relax and push it back. We'll have our memories and he'll always be with us. Babe you can't keep working yourself up it's not good for you or this baby, we'll go see Sid tomorrow and have a chat with him okay?"
"Okay," she replied "I'm sorry to be bringing it up again."
"It's okay, no need to be sorry I know exactly how you feel, look babe I have to go now will you be okay?" he asked concerned.
"I'll be fine I just needed to get it off my chest," she replied.
"Feel better?" he asked.
"I do just because it was you," she chuckled.
Brax chuckled too "right babe I really have to go I have a staff meeting they're all waiting on me."
"Okay," she replied and stood up "love ya see ya soon."
"Love ya too…bye," he said and hung up.
Standing up she looked down at her phone as it beeped reading the message her eyes went wide, it was from Bianca 'is it okay if April stays until the end of the summer? Things are getting serious with Ben, we wanted to spend a bit of time together without working.
Replying quickly she turned off her phone and headed back to the court house baffled.
Later that evening Charlie let herself in to find Brax dishing up dinner "hey," she said and kissed him on the cheek as she walked by.
"Hey," he replied "just in time do you wanna call the girls down?" he asked as he walked to the table with plates.
Charlie nodded and stuck her head into the living room "girls!" she called "dinner is ready!" walking back to the kitchen she helped Brax set the table "is Ruby still upset about her dad?" she asked.
"Not really," he replied "she wasn't moping in work today like she was last week."
Charlie sighed heavily of course her dad never turned up on Saturday with the excuse of being sent away for work…she hadn't heard from him since "I hope he doesn't get in touch again," she snapped and slammed a fork down.
Brax looked over at her and frowned "everything okay?" he asked he knew by her face as soon as she walked in the door something was wrong.
"Sorry," she sighed "I got a text from Bianca earlier…we'll talk later," she said quickly as Ruby and April came into the kitchen.
"Hey mum," Ruby said happily and sat beside her.
"Hey sweetie," she replied "any plans for later."
"Well," Ruby drawled "I was hoping I could stay with Case and Kyle tonight since April was staying with Dex."
"House to ourselves, go for it," Brax chuckled.
Charlie chuckled too "sure sweetie that's fine, April do you need a ride to Dex's or is Sid picking you up?" she asked.
"I don't know if I'm going now," she muttered into he plate.
Charlie frowned and looked over at her "is everything okay?" she asked.
"You two have a fight?" Brax asked when she just nodded.
"No," she whimpered and sunk lower in her chair.
Charlie and Brax looked at one another then back to her "April what's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"I'm sorry!" she cried and shot up before running out of the room in tears.
Brax looked over at Ruby "has that kid done anything to her before I go drag him out of his house?"
"No they were only talking a few minutes ago…excuse me," she said and ran up the stairs.
Charlie sighed heavily "that stupid cow," she said and pushed her chair back.
"What?" Brax asked he was so confused now.
"Bianca asked me could April stay until the end of summer that things were getting serious with that guys she's seeing. I was so annoyed and heading back into court I just said yes I never actually got to talk to her…obviously she's been in touch with April, I better go see if she's okay."
"So let me get this straight," Brax said standing up "she wants to spend more time with a bloke that she sees every day than come home to her daughter she hasn't seen since Christmas?"
Charlie nodded "and I think April is thinking the same," she said and went up the stairs.
…
Getting to the top of the stairs Charlie stopped as April's bedroom door opened and Ruby slipped out "is she okay?"
"No," Ruby sighed and started to walk her to her own room "she's really upset over Bianca not coming home…I've to go call Dex and Case to cancel, she'll need me."
"Hey," Charlie said stopping her "you go to Casey's I'll take care of her."
"Are you sure? I mean she's really upset, she's calling Bianca all sorts in there," Ruby replied.
"Yes," Charlie nodded "I'll talk to her, I'll take her out for a walk and we'll talk."
"Okay, thanks mum," Ruby said and kissed her on the cheek "I can come home if you need me to," she added before she went back downstairs.
Charlie waited until she was gone before walking to April's door, knocking she stuck her head in "can I come in?" she asked. After April's nod she slipped in and closed the door.
Walking to the bed she sat down beside her, her heart just broke at the sad look on her face "April," she sighed and wrapped her arm around her.
"Why doesn't she want to come home?" she sobbed "does she not miss me? Does she not love me more than that guy?" she cried and buried her head in her chest "what did I do wrong Charlie?"
Charlie let out a shaky breath and looked up willing her tears to stay in "of course she loves you April, she misses you so much and you haven't done anything wrong. She wants to spend a bit more time with this guy because come start of school they might not be seeing each other, she could be sent somewhere else and so could he."
April pulled back "I should have only been here till Christmas, she was supposed to stay but no here were are six months later, one call or text a day or messages passed through you…she doesn't give a damn about me," she muttered. "You're more of a mum to me than her," she snapped.
"Hey now," Charlie said "don't talk about your mother like that, I know she's made some bad decisions but everything she does she does for you."
April scoffed "how is staying in another country with a guy for three months any benefit to me other than turning me against her?"
Charlie sighed she was getting nowhere "well if it helps I love you and you're welcome here as long as you want," she said and walked to the door "I'll give you a bit more time to calm down then we'll go for a walk and talk more."
"Hey Charlie!" she called after her "thanks…and I love you too."
Charlie smiled "don't mention it," she said and closed the door….Bianca was a dead woman.
The morning Brax woke to find Charlie's side empty, glancing at the clock he frowned and rolled out of the bed. Pulling on bottoms he pulled the door open and stepped out into the hallway, stopping when he saw her leaning against April's door looking in.
Walking to her he slid his arms around her "you were tossing and turning last night," he said pulling her against him.
"I'm worried about her," she replied and leaned into him.
Brax looked in at her sleeping soundly, reaching over he closed the door and led Charlie back to their room "it's only seven and you're off today," he said shoving her onto the bed. Lying back beside her he pulled her onto his chest "you were pretty upset after you two got back last night…wanna talk about it now?"
Charlie sighed as she traced his tattoo "she asked me could she stay here permanently…even when Bianca gets back. Brax she said really awful stuff about her, she refused to talk to her when she called, she wouldn't get on the skype when she called…I don't know what to do."
Brax brought his arm down around her "I don't agree with what Bianca is doing but she's her mum Charlie, you can't tell her she can stay then Bianca takes her anyway when she gets back."
"I know," Charlie nodded "but she's going to Uni soon, she's happy here she has us and Ruby…she has a family here with us."
"Babe I know you love her like your own and I do too, but unfortunately Bianca no matter what she's done is her family and she needs to be with her mum…what if she brings that guy back with her? April will have her own family then."
Charlie groaned "I want her to stay here with us Bianca will never settle in one place, what's the point in taking her to live with her for a few months then asking us can she come back to stay, it's not healthy for her Brax she needs a home and a family."
April had been listening outside, she woke up when Brax was talking, she'd gone down and made coffee as a thank you for last night. Blowing out a breath she walked into the room with two cups "this is my home and you are my family that's all there is to it…I'm not living with Bianca again," she said and placed the cups down before hurrying from the room.
"April!" Charlie called after her.
April stuck her head back in "I'm fine honestly Charlie, I've had time to think about things…I better get ready, we're going to check out the dorms on campus," she said and walked off again.
"Leave her," Brax said as Charlie went to get off the bed "she's fine," he added.
Charlie looked to the doorway for a moment before sighing and lying back "I hope you're right."
"She has you looking out for her," he said dropping a kiss on her forehead "she'll be just fine."
….
Just after ten Charlie paced the hallway of the hospital waiting on Brax, she had called him and he'd gotten held up but was on his way. She sighed and turned as he name was called "hey Sid," she smiled walking to him.
"Hey…is Brax joining us?" he asked looking beyond her.
"He's on his way he got held up," she replied.
Sid nodded and stepped aside gesturing for her to go in "we can start without him it's mostly paperwork first anyway, he can join us when he gets here."
Charlie nodded and walked into the office "I wont take up too much of your time," she said as he walked to his desk.
"That's no problem…what brings you here today?" he asked.
"A few weeks ago I did a test that confirmed I was pregnant, after last time I just wanted to ask is there anything we can do, any tests we can take to make sure it doesn't happen again," she asked.
Sid nodded and began to write "well first off congrats," he chuckled "and how long did the test say you were gone?"
"Five weeks when I did it, so seven now…I know it's a bit early for a scan but I want to be extra careful this time," she replied.
Sid nodded and jotted it all down "we can do a scan today but you may not see anything, your baby will be smaller than a pea," he chucked "but if it eases your mind I can have a look. First I need you to do a urine test," he said popping a plastic container on the table "this will be able to tell me all your levels blood cells sugar and so on."
Charlie nodded and took the container "will I come back in or wait outside?"
"Come back in I'll be here," he smiled and opened the door.
A few minutes later Charlie returned tapping on the door she pushed it in to see Brax talking to Sid "hey," she replied and sat beside him.
Sid stood up and took the urine from her "I was just filling Brax in on what were gonna do today," he said and walked to the door "I'll go send this off to the lab…back in a few minutes," he added and slipped out of the room.
"Sorry I'm late," Brax said slipping his hand into hers "the dishwasher at Angelo's decided to flood just as I was leaving."
"It's fine you're here now," she replied.
Brax just nodded and watched her fidget "are you okay?" he asked.
"Just a little nervous I'll be fine," she said and smiled quickly.
Before he could reply Sid walked back in "right Charlie while we wait for results you can hop up on the table and we'll get the scan going."
A few minutes later Charlie smiled as the sound of a tiny heartbeat filled the room "amazing," she sniffed.
"Yeah," Brax nodded and slid his hand into hers "that's our baby," he added.
A while later they left the hospital together Charlie held his hand as she walked and stared down at the scan photo "he really is tiny," she chuckled "I could barely make him out."
"I know, I couldn't see anything until Sid pointed him out with the pen," Brax chuckled.
Charlie chuckled and looked up at him "I feel a whole lot better now, thank you for doing this for me."
Brax smiled and kissed her "don't mention it babe, you heard Sid just take it easy try cut out stress and everything should run smoothly…what's the date for the big scan?"
"When I'm twelve weeks," she replied and looked down at a card "um…twenty-seventh of July."
Brax nodded and kissed her again "I'll stick it in my phone now…are you okay to drive home now? I have to head off and pick up a dishwasher."
"I thought we were going for lunch?" she asked not impressed.
"I need the dishwasher babe, I'll be an hour tops, then we can go," he promised.
Charlie sighed and pulled out her car keys "it'll be dinner time by then…I'll just see you at home," she muttered and walked off.
"I love you!" Brax called after her cursing his stupid restaurant and sighing when she just waved her hand in the air.
Arriving home Charlie tucked the scan photo into her bag and climbed out, locking her car she walked around back and stopped at the figure sitting there waiting "oh jesus no," she groaned and dropped her head into her hands.
"Hey Charlz!" he smiled and stood up "long time no see," he said walking to her.
"Trust me that's a good thing," she said and walked by him "what are you doing here Robbie?" she asked as she let herself in.
"My job landed me here for three weeks, wanted to catch up with my daughter…and you," he said poking her in the side.
Charlie stepped away from him "seriously?" she asked raising an eyebrow "you promise to take her to Miami and you let her down on the day and don't call her again to see if she's okay? Not to mention all the other times you've let her down!" she yelled and walked to the living room.
"I know I know," he said following her "after this deal is closed I'm gonna take her with me for real…I promise, this the new husband?" he asked picking up a picture of her and Brax.
"Mind your own business," she said and snatched it from him "just tell me where you're staying and she can call you later."
"No," he chuckled shaking his head "I'm taking you Ruby the hubby and April out to dinner tonight!" he called as he walked away "eight at that Angelo's place!" he called and slipped out the back door.
Charlie groaned why did he have to turn up now?
…..
Later Brax slipped in to find her loading the machine "hey…I'll do that," he offered.
"I'm fine I can load a washing machine you know!" she snapped looking at his face she sighed "I'm sorry, I'm just a little snappy at the moment…sorry," she sighed again.
"Because of me?" he asked and walked to her.
"No," she said and sat down "guess who was sitting out back when I arrived home."
Brax shrugged "Bianca? One of you mysterious brothers?"
"No," she chuckled "Robbie…Ruby's dad," she added when he frowned.
"Right," he nodded slowly "I thought you meant Beth's son Robbie…what did he want?" he asked and sat beside her.
"To see Ruby…and to take us for dinner," she said and looked at him.
"You and Ruby?" he asked trying to remain calm.
"No, all of us, me you Ruby and April," she replied.
"Okay…what's he doing here anyway? Isn't he supposed to be off for work somewhere?"
"Apparently his work took him here," she replied "what?" she asked when he scoffed.
"So he's not here to see Ruby at all? Just because his work brought him this way…nice," he nodded "we're not going to dinner are we?"
Before Charlie could reply Ruby bounced in the door "my dad is here!" she yelled happily "he told me we're all going to dinner later, this is so awesome I can't wait, I'm so excited!" she squealed and ran up the stairs.
Charlie looked at Brax "we have to go now, she'll be crushed if we don't."
Brax sighed and walked to her "alright then," he said and kissed her quickly before walking to the living room.
Charlie jumped as someone came in the door "hey Kyle," she smiled.
"Hey," he replied "is Brax here?"
"Living room," Charlie nodded.
"Thanks," Kyle said and walked to him.
"What now?" he groaned as Kyle sat beside him.
"Uh…the police from Reefton lakes were in looking for Heath and I can't find him anywhere," Kyle said quickly.
"What!" Brax yelled causing Charlie to walk in.
"What now?" she sighed thinking it was Angelo's again.
Brax stood up ignoring her "what are they looking for him for?" Kyle glanced at Charlie "don't mind her!" he yelled "what do they want him for!"
"Excuse me!" Charlie yelled back "what do you mean don't mind me?"
"Not now Charlie, I need to find the idiot," he said and walked by her.
"What about the dinner!" she called after him.
"I'll be there when I'm there!" he called on his way out the door.
"That's not good enough Brax!" she yelled after him "this means a lot to Ruby!"
"Uh…sorry," Kyle said still standing there.
"What did he do?" she asked.
"Wasted and took a golf cart from some club," he replied.
Charlie shook her head "suppose I better make a call," she sighed and walked to her phone.
"Um, thanks and sorry again…I better get back," Kyle said and walked out the back door.
After eight Charlie Ruby and April walked into Angelo's "dad!" Ruby called and hurried to hug him.
"Hey," Robbie smiled and hugged her before moving onto April for a hug "no husband?" he asked kissing Charlie on the cheek.
Charlie saw Brax move about the bar "he's already here, he owns this place."
"Nice, free food then," he chuckled.
"No free food, you'll play like everyone else," Charlie replied.
"I'm just kidding Charlz, lighten up," he chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder "shall we go see where our table is?" he asked leading her to the bar.
Brax looked up to see some guy smiling with his arm wrapped around his wife, squeezing a towel with anger he threw it down and walked around the bar "you must be Ruby's dad?" he asked stopping in front of him.
"And you must be the husband?" Robbie asked holding out his hand "Robbie," he said.
"Brax," he replied and shook it "table is this way?" he said and walked off.
"You're not joining us?" Charlie asked as he went to talk away.
Brax leaned down and kissed her "table setting is one short, I'll be back in a sec," he said and walked off.
"Well, he seems nice," Robbie chuckled.
"He is," Charlie shot back.
"Brax is awesome dad," Ruby giggled.
"Not as awesome as me," Robbie said wrapping his arm around her.
"So Robbie," Brax said sitting beside Charlie "what line of work are you in? all I know is you travel a lot," he said pointedly.
"Brax," Charlie whispered quickly.
"Engineer," he replied "my contract is an on call one so I have to go when they call even if it is a five hour flight away."
"What are you doing here?" April asked.
"The police station are having problems with their electrics, so since Reefton and Yabbie creek have a contract with my company they can only use one of us."
Charlie sighed heavily "when are you at Yabbie creek and how long for?"
"Not there till next week, I'm at Reefton lakes tomorrow until Thursday, off till Monday…then I shall be joining you for the following week," he chuckled.
"What do you have to do that takes so long?" Brax asked curiously.
"Each computer needs to be rerouted which takes ten hours, then I've to head to police headquarters and match their computer software to it. Since the computers are needed I can only do two at a time so it'll take a few days," he answered.
"It'll be great to have you here dad," Ruby said and hugged him.
"We can do a few things together if you want," he said smiling at Charlie.
Brax hated the way he was looking at Charlie and it crushed him to see him hug Ruby "I'll go see how our order is coming," he said and walked off.
Charlie watched him go and sighed, she hoped he would be able to act normal until they at least got home.
…..
A while later Charlie and Robbie sat listening to Ruby and April fill them in on how they got on up in the university. Brax leaned on the bar watching them, he hadn't missed the glances or smiles he kept giving Charlie. He growled as Robbie laughed and placed his hand on her leg, slamming a glass down he walked back to the table "does anyone need a drink before I head into the office?"
"I thought you were just getting papers for Kyle?" Charlie asked.
"I did," he nodded "now I have to send off forms for a new job one of the girls applied for…I'll only be a minute," he added.
Charlie's face went blank she stared at him for a moment before nodding "I'll just get a water and the girls will have another soda…Robbie?" she asked.
"I'll have another wine, thanks," he said and went back to his conversation with April.
"Coming up," Brax said and walked to the bar, getting their drinks on a tray he called one of the waiters "drop them off at table eight," he said and walked into the office…he couldn't keep his cool anymore.
He looked up a few minutes later as the door flew open and Charlie stormed in "what the hell is going on Brax?" she yelled.
"This is hard for me Charlie," he sighed.
"This is hard for me too Brax but I'm out there doing it for our daughter!" she hissed.
"She's not my daughter though is she Charlie? Not while he's around!" he snapped.
Charlie rubbed her temples "you're acting like a teenager Brax, you're jealous and angry and there's nothing I can do about that. You need to get over it and come sit with us…there's nothing I can do about him being here!"
"I'm not jealous," he shot back.
"Yes you are," she said calmly and walked to him "and I understand Brax I really do, I know it hurts to see another man making her smile and hugging her too. But you have to remember one thing," she said sliding her arms around his neck "she loves you so much, she knows she can always depend on you and she knows you'll always be there-for both of them."
Brax sighed and kissed her "I'm sorry I was just knocked and felt outta place…I'm acting like a child."
Charlie kissed him and stepped back "you'll never be out of place so stop being a child and come with me…before I break his arm if he touches me again."
Brax chuckled and walked to her "that was part of the reason I needed a time out," he said sliding his hand into hers "hey, I'm sorry about back at the house with Kyle."
"It's fine I know how you get over Heath…I got him out of court but he has to pay a sixty dollar fine and damages to the club for the cart."
Brax chuckled and wrapped his arm around her "thank you, you didn't have to do that."
Charlie whirled around and kissed him "perks of having a cop as a wife…let's get this over with," she added and pulled him down beside her.
A/N hope you enjoyed this one…next chapter will have a bit more drama (Brax can't contain his jealousy any longer is a little hint) JJ.
