Two days had passed and Charlie had found herself too occupied with Ruby to even think about Brax and Angelo's. Finally getting a minute to herself she slipped out back and sat at the table outside, blowing out a breath she started to think about what she was going to say to Brax.

Just as she was stringing together and idea she jumped as her phone rang, looking at the unknown number she frowned before answering "hello?" she asked.

"Mrs Braxton, hi," came a voice she was sure she'd heard before "sorry to bother you, it's Tom from the agency."

"Oh, hi," Charlie replied "what can I do for you?"

"I'm having trouble tracking down your husband," he chuckled.

Charlie nodded, that explained the phone ringing in the kitchen "he's out for a surf at the moment, you just missed him…he doesn't take his phone."

"Ah," Tom replied "I have a man keen to look at Angelo's today, as soon as possible."

Charlie sighed "can I get him to call you back as soon as he gets back?"

"I'm afraid he was hoping to see it this morning, he has a flight to catch this afternoon."

Charlie got an idea "well can I meet you there instead? I do own it too."

"That'll would be great, I'll see you there about ten am?" he asked.

"Ten am," she repeated "I'll see you then," she said and hung up "damn it," she sighed and threw down the phone.

"Work?" Brodie asked as he handed her a cup.

"No," she muttered "a buyer for Angelo's."

Brodie sat down beside her "why don't you just talk to him again," he suggested.

"I've tried he won't listen to anything I say," she sighed and stood up "I better get dressed I've to meet the agent at ten."

"Charlie," Brodie said in a warning tone "don't do anything stupid!" he called after her.

"I won't," she called back and hurried up the stairs.

"Charlie, I mean it!" he called following her "you go there you show them around and you leave nothing else."

"Relax dad," she chuckled "I know what I'm doing."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he said and sat beside her "if anything goes wrong I'm gonna tell Brax it was you."

Charlie chuckled "you wouldn't rat me out," she said and stood up "you love me too much and you'd have nowhere to live."

Brodie chuckled too "I have two more brothers that would be more than willing to take me in."

Charlie scoffed "I'm sorry, do you see them offering any of you a bed," she said and walked to her closet "now if you'll excuse me I don't think, my pjs will cut it today."

Brodie chuckled again and stood up "just be careful Charlie, you two are only back on track," he said and walked out of the room.

Charlie sighed and threw her dress on the bed what the hell was she doing? Is it worth it?

A while later Brax arrived home and let himself in "Charlie?" he called as he walked to the fridge "babe?" he called again when she didn't answer. He jumped slightly when Brodie skidded to a stop "uh, hey," he said slowly.

"Hey Brax," Brodie said happily "how was your surf?"

"good…Charlie upstairs?" he asked as he walked by him.

"No," he replied and quickly blocked him from getting his phone "she had to nip out."

"Okay," he frowned "did she go out to get something for Ruby?" he asked and ducked around him for his phone.

Brodie began to panic as he unlocked his phone "no uh, the agent called her when he couldn't get in touch with you."

"The estate agent?" he asked.

"It's okay though," Brodie said "it was a viewing, Charlie is taking care of it," he said and walked by him quickly.

"Why are you acting so weird?" Brax asked.

"Too much coffee…better get some air and calm down…later," he said and walked by him "you need to stay here in case Ruby needs anything!" he called on his way out.

Brax shook his head and watched him walk off "what a funny guy," he chuckled and went to check on Ruby.

Over at Angelo's Charlie's heart was racing, so far her plan was working "sorry?" she asked when the guy looked at her.

"I said I would like to keep all the staff and delivery companies, have you had any problems?"

Charlie glanced at Tom as he slipped off to take a call "oh a few," she nodded "but we get around them…would you like to see the kitchen again?" she asked walking off.

"What kind of problems? He asked following her.

"Well it's a small town so it would be really hard to replace the drivers and companies but," she started and looked again to see where Tom was "the guy that delivers the fruit and veg tries to pass off out of date stuff as fresh the odd time, he's a nightmare, we have to check all the boxes to make sure it's all fresh."

"Really?" the man asked surprised "I would have thought they'd want the business."

"Oh don't get me started," Charlie sighed "the guy that brings the spirits tries to get my husband to buy knock off stuff half the time.

The man sighed and looked beyond Charlie as Tom joined them "I think I'll pass, thank you for your time Mrs Braxton," he said and turned to Tom "I will be in contact when I get back next week," he said and walked off.

Tom looked at Charlie "what happened? I thought he was really keen."

Charlie shrugged "he asked me about expanding and I told him it couldn't be done because we don't own downstairs."

Tom nodded "sorry for wasting your time," he said and grabbed his case "I'll be in touch with your husband if anything else comes up."

"Thanks Tom, see ya soon," she said and waved him off.


A while later Charlie pulled up at her house and sighed, she felt really bad but it was for the best. Thinking for another few minutes she finally pulled herself out of her car and walked up the drive, walking in she stuck her head in to see Brax alone on the sofa "hey," she said and walked to him.

"Hey babe," he smiled and wrapped his arm around her "how did it go?"

"It started off really well, then he passed," she replied.

"Great," he muttered "did he tell you why?"

"He's looking for somewhere he can expand…movie?" she asked changing the subject.

"Well that's that I guess, do you wanna go out for dinner?" he asked.

"Can we just stay in?" she asked "get a take out and watch a movie?"

Brax frowned and looked down on her "everything okay?" he asked "you seem a bit edgy."

"I'm just tried and drained, apart from running back and forth looking after Ruby I'm trying to look after everyone else and myself too," she replied.

Brax rubbed her stomach and pulled her closer "I bet this one isn't helping, alright, a night in it is," he said and dropped a kiss on her head.

"Thanks," she yawned and snuggled into him. She still felt guilty about what she'd done "hey Brax," she said and titled her head up.

"Mh?" he replied and looked down on her.

Thinking for a minute she blew out a breath, she couldn't tell him "how about we go away when Ruby's back on her feet?"

"Sure," he nodded "any ideas?"

Charlie shrugged "haven't thought that far ahead…what about that place we went to in the country side?"

"Sounds like a good idea," he said and stood up "hopefully Angelo's will be sold by then and we can have a good time," he said and walked to the kitchen.

"Yeah," she sighed and followed him "so you're still sure you want to sell it?"

Brax put down his glass and walked to her "okay, what's going on? You've been off since you came in, not to mention Brodie was acting weird earlier."

"Can't speak for Brodie but I told you I was tired," she replied.

"Did something happen with Angelo's that you don't want me to know?" he asked stepping closer to her.

"No," she said quickly "the guy was happy until I told him he couldn't expand."

Brax looked down on her for a moment "alright," he said and walked to get his keys "when you want to stop lying to me I'll be at Angelo's," he said and opened the door.

"What makes you think I'm lying?" she asked as her heart pounded against her chest.

Brax scoffed "I've been with you long enough Charlie!" he yelled "so are you going to tell me?"

Charlie chewed on her lip "there's nothing to tell," she said and looked at him "really," she added.

Brax sighed heavily "you know where I'll be," he said and walked off slamming the door behind him.

A few minutes later Ruby appeared behind her "what did you do mum?"

Charlie turned to face her "what are you doing out of bed? And I didn't do anything."

Ruby scoffed "you have guilt written all over your face."

"Fine," Charlie sighed and dropped into a chair "I sabotaged a sale for Angelo's and now it's eating me alive."

"Mum," Ruby gasped and sat beside her "how could you do that? What did you do?"

I told the guy a few bad things," Charlie said as her guilt grew.

Ruby shook her head "what is wrong with you?" she asked and stood up "you were fine with him selling it now you're not, make up your damn mind and stop making the rest of us suffer!" she hissed.

"Ruby!" Charlie said shocked.

"No mum!" she yelled back "I'm sick of it! We're all sick of it! I'm sick not having my dad here because you two are as stubborn as each other! I'm sick texting him to see is he gone for good this time! You go tell him what you've done and either work it out or let him move on to someone that actually wants to be with him!" she yelled and stormed off.

Charlie's heart sunk, she never realised how much this was affecting the girls. Sighing she stood up and walked to her keys, stopping when April appeared "hey," she said.

"Really Charlie?" she yelled "Brax has just come home, everything was getting back to normal! How could you be so selfish and stupid?"

Charlie looked down at her keys "I know it was the wrong choice."

"Wrong choice?" April laughed "Charlie he's doing this for you! To make you happy! You wanted him to sell too, why all of a sudden have you changed your mind?"

"Because I can see it on his face every time he mentions it, he doesn't want to sell it, he's just doing it because he thinks it's the right thing to do," Charlie replied.

"He loves you, he wants you to be happy," April said and walked off "go see him and sort it out," she added.

Charlie moved as the back door opened "did Brax find out?" Brodie asked "he's in a right mood down in Angelo's."

"No, but he knows something is up, he told me to come see him when I'm done lying," Charlie replied.

Brodie looked to her keys "you're heading there now?"

"Yep, wish me luck," she groaned.

Brodie chuckled "it's your own fault, I told you not to do anything stupid…did you not think about the guy telling the agent what you said? Or him getting in contact with Brax?"

"No," she grumbled and opened the door "guess I better go face the music…don't expect me home any time soon."

Brodie chuckled again and walked to the door with her "let him yell, you deserve it," he said and pushed her out before closing the door on her.


Charlie arrived and went up the stairs, seeing him at the bar alone she walked up to him "hey," she said quietly.

Brax glanced at her and took a sip of his drink "hey," he replied.

"Can we talk?" she asked after a minute of silence.

"Go ahead," he replied.

"Not here," she said looking around at all the people.

Brax slid off his stool and walked by her towards her office "great," she muttered "he's in one of those moods," she added and followed him.

"So?" he asked crossing his arms.

Charlie sighed and walked to sit beside him "the guy was pretty keen until I told him a few things-a few lies."

"Lies?" Brax asked "why would you tell him lies? What did you tell him?"

Charlie shrugged and looked down at her hands "the toilets didn't work properly, the suppliers were dodgy…things like that."

Brax scrubbed his hands over his face "you left out the manager with a drinking problem and the chef that half cooks his food."

Charlie looked over at him and raised an eyebrow "you already knew?"

"Got an email when I got here, the guy got onto health and safety, we've a visit next week…thanks for that," he said and walked by her.

"I'm sorry," she started.

"Sorry?" he yelled slamming his hand on the desk "I don't get you Charlie! You said this place was in the way of us, here I am trying to solve it and you make it worse! Why!" he yelled.

"Because I see the look on your face every time you mention it," she said and walked to him. "Brax, you don't want to sell this place, you've put too much into it, I can't ask you to give it all up, it kills me seeing you so sad and down."

Brax sighed heavily and sat back on the desk "nothing will change if I keep it."

"Then we'll just have to work on making time for each other," she replied and sat beside him.

"We've tried that," he muttered.

Charlie stepped in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck "I would do anything for you too you know."

Brax sighed again and slid his hands onto her waist "like what?"

Charlie bit on her lip, she couldn't believe what she was about to say, never in a million years did she ever think she'd even consider it "give up being a cop and work here with you," she said seriously.

Brax's eyes went wide "what?" he yelled "you love being a cop."

"I love you more," she replied instantly.

Brax took his hands away and stood up "I can't let you do that, I know you're trying to come to a solution here but that isn't one of them."

Charlie sighed and walked to the door "just think about it, the girls want you home and to know you're staying home," she said and walked off.

A while later Charlie walked along the pier, she was kinda pissed that Brax had dismissed her idea so quickly. Sitting down she looked out over the water, hearing footsteps she looked up to see Brax walking towards her.

Brax sat down without a word and slid his hand into hers "I would love nothing more than us running the place together," he started "but babe, I still remember you saying you wanted to go on to be a detective and take the exams. I don't want Angelo's holding you back, you've worked so hard to get where you are now. If you leave it will have been for nothing."

Charlie sighed and wrapped her arm around his before resting her head on his shoulder "well suck it up coz I'm doing it. I'm on the deed to Angelo's so I'm afraid you can't sell it without my permission, which I do not give," she said and looked at him.

Brax chuckled "I wondered who was routing in my safe."

Charlie giggled "I think you're the one that should be a detective, miss nothing you."

Brax nudged her up and moved closer to her "I learn from the best," he said and kissed her deeply.

After a heavy make out session Brax dragged her up "we're going on a date."

"Now," she giggled as he tugged her along.

"Yes now," he chuckled and swung her to face him "dinner, home, movie, bed," he said and kissed her.

"Hey," she said stopping "so we're okay? You forgive me for what I've done?"

"I'm just lucky you're such a terrible liar or I might have the place closed down on me…dodgy spirits? Really?"

"Shut up," she giggled "I said whatever I thought of first."

Brax kissed her again "tonight babe it's all about me and you."

"I gotta check someone's at home with Ruby," she said rummaging in her bag.

"I was home already, April and Tori are there for the night, your brothers are going out," Brax said pulling her along.

"All of them? Did they not invite you?" she asked.

"They did, I'd just rather be with you," he replied.

Charlie smiled wide "you can go if you want, you can meet them after dinner."

"Nope," he said and ushered her up the stairs "I'm staying here with you."

Little did they know Ruby and April had another idea. Both girls walked towards Angelo's Ruby carrying a back pack "you sure about this?" April asked nervously.

"Yes," Ruby replied "if it's gone no one will buy it and Brax will be at home, we all get what we want."

"Yeah but burning it down?" April said "don't you think that's a bit extreme? How do you know they haven't sorted it out?"

"You saw Brax's face when he dropped in, he was still in a bad mood and mum never came home which means she's off somewhere feeling sorry for herself," Ruby said as they went around the back.


An hour later April stood up "I think that's everyone out now…are you really sure about this Ruby? Do you know how much trouble we'll get into?"

"They'll never know it was us, I knocked off the cameras around the surf club when John wasn't watching…go keep watch," Ruby said as she pulled a bottle from her bag.

"What's in that?" April asked as she shoved a rag into it.

"Petrol," Ruby replied "it'll go up quick."

"Petrol?" April shrieked "Ruby, I can't do this can we just go home? Please?" she begged when Ruby ignored her.

"Weren't you the one that said you wanted our family to be happy and normal?" Ruby asked as she rummaged for a lighter.

"Yes, but not like this, Brax will be crushed. What if they start fighting again because of this?" April asked panicked.

"They won't," Ruby said and lit the rag "run!" she squealed as it lit up. Throwing it up she watched it break through the kitchen window before she took off after April.

Inside Brax and Charlie were sitting close to the kitchen, they had just finished dinner. Brax chuckled as Charlie wrinkled her nose "was my cooking that bad?"

"No," she laughed and grabbed a napkin "my eyes are all watery, it's like I can smell smoke too."

Brax stood up and leaned over her "that'll be the smoked ribs," he chuckled and kissed her sweetly "I'll be back with desert in a sec," he added and took her plate.

Charlie's gut was telling her something wasn't right, looking behind her she frowned and looked out towards the balcony…something was definitely off. Standing up she saw Brax get closer to the kitchen door "Brax! wait!" she yelled as smoke clouded the window from the inside "don't go in th-"

It was too late, just as Brax pushed it in an explosion rang out causing her to scream and both be thrown backwards.

Charlie lay on the floor for a moment, rolling on her side she coughed and sat up "oww," she cried and grabbed her ringing ears.

Another minute went by before she was able to move "Brax!" she called out "Brax where are you!" she whimpered trying to see through the thick smoke.

"Brax!" she screamed seeing him not moving on the floor in front of the bar, pushing tables out of her way she made her way to him, kicking chairs and other stuff that had caught fire away from him. "Brax!" she cried and jumped down beside him "oh god!" she sobbed when blood ran down his face "Brax! Hey Brax! Wake up!" she panicked shaking him vigorously "baby please wake up," she sobbed.

When he wouldn't wake up she frantically searched his pockets for his phone or hers that he'd taken off her "damn it!" she yelled when his phone was all smashed up and hers was nowhere to be seen. "Brax, you need to wake up, please!" she screamed as another explosion came from the kitchen what the hell did she do now?

A few minutes later she jumped to her feet and tried to drag Brax towards the exit. He was too heavy for her, she moved about two steps before she dropped to the floor again, thinking quick she ran to the balcony and pushed the door open "help!" she screamed as soon as she was outside "someone help! We need help!"

"Charlie?" Charlie is that you? Jack asked running closer "what's wrong?

"Jack please help me!" she yelled "the place is on fire! I can't wake Brax up! He's hurt! Help me!" She cried and ran back inside.

Charlie you get out now!" Peter yelled running with Jack "Mason! Call the fire and ambulance!"

"What can we do?" Justin asked as he and Brodie ran after them.

"Justin, you get Charlie, we'll get Brax," Peter said as they all ran in.

"Charlie come on!" Justin yelled dragging her to her feet.

"I'm not going anywhere until Brax is with me!" she screamed and shoved him away.

"We got him, get out Charlie!" Brodie yelled as he Jack and Peter grabbed hold of Brax.

Charlie looked back at the kitchen, it hadn't spread yet, seeing the fire extinguishers she shoved Justin off again "I gotta put it out before it gets to the bar! The whole place will go up!" she called.

"Charlie! Get back here! Leave it!" Justin yelled and ran after her.

"I can't!" she cried "I have to try!" she said and pushed the door in.

Spraying everywhere she began to cough "come on! Come on!" she screamed and moved further in.

"Charlie! Move!" Justin yelled and dragged her away.

"I have to! He can't lose this place!" she screeched and jumped away from him.

"Charlie don't be ridiculous! Brax would want you safe than risking your life for this place," he hissed and grabbed her again.

Charlie went to reply but stopped when she saw firemen "hurry! In here! Don't let it spread!"

"Sergeant get the hell out of here!" one yelled and pushed her and Justin outside.

Charlie stopped to watch them tackle the fire. "Jesus! Come on Charlie!" Justin yelled and lifted her off the ground this time.

"Where's Brax!" she yelled as soon as she was outside.

"Unconscious in the ambulance, you need to get looked at too," Peter said taking her arm.

Charlie pulled away "later," she said and hurried towards it.

"No, now!" Peter hissed and went for her again.

"I said later!" she screamed and shoved him away from her, jumping into the ambulance she grabbed his hand "is he gonna be okay?" she sniffed.

"He's in the best hands," the medic replied "we gotta move!" he called towards the driver.

"Why won't he wake up?" she asked a few minutes later.

"He has a head injury and bleeding in his ear, we won't know the full extent until he gets to the hospital."

Charlie whimpered and gripped his hand tighter "come on Brax, please don't leave me."


A while later Charlie came out of a cubicle after being looked over, Brax had gone for x-rays that's when Peter forced her to be seen by Sid. She sat down without a word and watched the door waiting for Sid to come back with news on Brax.

Peter sat down beside her "what were you thinking trying to put it out?" he asked.

"I was trying to save the place," she replied.

"Charlie that was so stupid, you're pregnant you shouldn't be doing things like that, Brax will go nuts if he finds out," Peter snapped.

"Get lost Pete," she snarled and stood up as Sid came back "how is he?"

Sid handed her water "drink that, he's been moved to a room as we speak."

"Is he awake? Can I see him? How are his injuries?" she asked.

"He's in and out, he's groggy and mumbling, he has a mild concussion and a little smoke inhalation. We believe the explosion damaged his ear drum we're just waiting on results," Sid replied.

Charlie nodded "he was right at the kitchen doors when it happened, can I go sit with him?"

"Of course, but you need rest too Charlie you we very lucky-both of you," he said nodding to her stomach.

Charlie nodded again "I will once I've seen him."

"I'll be here when you come out," Peter said.

Charlie looked back at him as she followed Sid "I'm not going home tonight, you get off."

Sid pushed in a door and gestured for her to go in "either of you need anything press the buzzer."

"Thanks Sid," she said as she walked by him.

"Don't mention it, I'll get a blanket and pillow sent into you," he said and walked off.

Charlie walked to the bed and sat in the chair, sliding her hand into his she sighed heavily and looked up at him "I'm sorry," she whispered "I'm sorry I couldn't get you out. Oh Brax I'm so sorry," she cried and threw herself on him "I love you so so much, I promise we'll never fight again, I promise I'll do whatever it takes for us to be happy."

"I'm happy once I know you're okay," he mumbled.

Charlie pulled back quickly "Brax? You're awake?"

"Hey baby," he said and wiped her tears "no more of that."

"I was so scared!" she cried and threw herself at him again "you can never ever leave me!" she sobbed.

Brax wrapped his arms around her as she clung to him and cried her eyes out "it's okay, I'm here, I'm never going anywhere, calm down," he said softly as he rubbed her back.

Charlie pulled back again "how do you feel?"

"My head is killing me my ears are still ringing, but I'm better now that I've seen you," he said and pulled her back to him.

Charlie got up on the bed and snuggled into him "you need to get some sleep," she said and closed her eyes.

Tori sighed as she heard the door open "I swear to you all, if Mason is wasted I'm gonna…" she trailed off as Jack Justin and Brodie stood looking back with black shirts and faces "what the hell were you idiots doing?" she chuckled.

Jack sighed and dropped into a seat "Angelo's was on fire," he finally said.

"No!" she gasped and dropped into a seat beside them "is it bad?"

"They contained it to the kitchen," Brodie answered.

"Has anyone called Brax or Charlie?" Tori asked.

Justin scoffed "they were in there, Brax was hurt Charlie wouldn't leave him so we had to go in and get them before it spread."

"What!" Tori yelled and jumped up "where are they? Are they okay?"

"T, calm down," Mason said "Pete is with them at the hospital, Charlie is okay Brax was closer to the explosion."

"What!" Ruby yelled from the door "Brax was inside?"

Jack stood up "there was an explosion at Angelo's, mum and Brax were inside, they're okay and at the hospital."

"Oh no," Ruby whimpered and threw her hands over her mouth "I have to go, I have to see them," she said and ran out of the room.

Getting to her room she dropped to the floor and threw up, April jumped out of the bed "what's wrong with you," she asked rubbing her back.

"Mum and Brax were in Angelo's!" she cried "April, what have I done!"

April pulled her hand away quickly "they were inside?" at her nod April burst out crying "I told you not to do anything! I begged you to come home with me! Look what you've done! This is all your fault!" she cried and raced out the door.

"Look girls," Jack said stopping them both "I've just spoken to Pete, they're both okay and sleeping. You two go back to bed, I'm gonna crash here tonight and bring you two in with me in the morning."

"I want to see them," Ruby sniffed.

"Look sweetie," Tori said wrapping her arm around her "they've been through a shock, the best thing we can all do now is let them sleep. We promise we'll bring you first thing tomorrow."

April wiped her face "are either of them burned?"

"No, thank god," Justin answered "Charlie is fine she's just worked up and upset over Brax. He is recovering and out of the woods."

April nodded and walked by them all "I'm going to bed," she muttered.

Ruby followed her and climbed into the bed beside her "as soon as I've seen mum and dad I'm going to the station…I'll keep you out of it," she added.

April sighed and rolled to face her "I was there too, I knew what was going to happen...we'll go together."

A few minutes later April lifted her head "do we tell Charlie and Brax first?"

Ruby bit on her lip as her eyes filled with tears "no, It's better we just go."

A/N hope you all enjoyed this one, sorry for the long delay, hopefully next one won't be too long, JJ