Ok, so I'm doing something a little different with this story, after some reviews and PM's from my latest story – A Braxton Christmas.
I've decided to do a big time jump and pick 'Counting Down The Hours' up, a few weeks after where 'A Braxton Christmas' left off. It seems you guys really like the family dynamic between Charlie, Brax, Harper & Jett.
There's nothing major you really need to know.
In 'A Braxton Christmas', Charlie & Brax are married and have moved back to Summer Bay, He still owns Angelo's and Charlie is newly pregnant and a full time Mum to their kids, Harper – 4 and Jett – nearly 2. Ruby has moved in with Casey and Heath at their place and Darcy lives with them too. Cheryl has got her act together, Heath has a girlfriend named Alex, Tegan is still dead in this story and Jake is still in prison, from shooting Charlie. Anything else you may need to know will be explained along the way and there will be some flashbacks too.
So just make sure you read 'A Braxton Christmas' first, to be up to date.
BRAX'S POV:
"Hey Guys" Heath calls walking in our front door.
"Uncie Heaf!" Harper says with a mouth full of cereal, happy to see her Uncle.
"Hey Cutie" Heath says kissing her cheek.
"What's up man?" I ask putting the milk back in the fridge.
"Just came to make sure you guys are all set for tonight?"
"Yeah definitely"
"We're looking forward to it" Charlie says, walking in to the kitchen with Jett on her hip, kissing Heath on the cheek as he takes Jett out of her arms.
"What are you doing tonight?" Harper asks.
"We're just going to a party baby" Charlie explains as she cuts up a banana for Jett.
"A PARTY" Harper shouts excitedly.
"it's Aunty Alex's Birthday, squirt" Heath explains.
"A BIRTHDAY PARTY!" she shouts again "that's my favowite kind!"
"Aww, it's for big people princess" I tell her.
"I'm big" she says "I'm this many" she says, holding up four fingers, making the three adults laugh at her cuteness.
"You are big princess, that's why I need you to help Nanna look after Jett" I tell my daughter.
"Can I have ice-cream?"
"If you're good"
"Can I choose the movies?"
"I'm sure that'd be ok with Nan"
"Can I stay up late?"
"Look at you, you little negotiator" I reply with a laugh.
Charlie looked at me chuckling as she takes Jett from Heath, buckling him in to his high chair.
"You realise you've just trapped your mother in to a late night of Dora with a kid on a sugar high?"
"Dowa, ice ceeam" Jett smiles, shoving a piece of banana in his mouth.
"Make that two kids" Heath chuckles at Jett.
"Better her then us" I laugh.
"You are so evil" Charlie giggles.
Suddenly her face drops and she covers her mouth with her hand as she runs to the bathroom.
"Mumma" Jett calls after her.
"Watch the kids" I tell Heath as I follow her.
I walk in to the bathroom where she's kneeling in front of the toilet, morning sickness in full force.
I hold her hair out of the way and rub her back until she gets up.
"You ok?" I ask as she washes her face and brushes her teeth, she nods.
"I'll be glad when the morning sickness stops"
"Wish there was something I could do for you babe" I say, pulling her in for a hug.
"I know" she mumbles in to my chest. "But it will be worth it when we have our baby...Plus, I'm pretty lucky, I wasn't sick at all with Harp and only a little at the beginning with Jett. So, hopefully it'll be over soon"
"Maybe it's another boy" I smile.
"Oh God, another Braxton troublemaker" she stirs.
"Pfft! You love us" I smile, kissing her gently.
"I'M READY!" Harper announces from the door, pulling a pink Dora suitcase behind her.
"Baby, you're not going to Nanna's until later and you're only going for the night" I explain.
"I know" she replies, like it's an obvious statement.
"So why do you have a suitcase?"
"I need choices Daddy! I gots LOTS of clothes"
"She gets this from Ruby!" I joke, looking down at my wife who's snickering at our daughter.
"Are you ok Mumma?" Harper asks, hugging Charlie's leg.
"I'm fine gorgeous" she answers, kneeling down.
"Promise?" Harper asks, concerned.
"Promise!" she nods as Harper kisses her nose.
"Come on baby, let's go pack a bag for your brother" Charlie says, scooping her up in her arms.
"Can I pick his clothes?" she asks quickly.
"Yes, my little stylist"
"Kiss Daddy" she says, leaning towards me with her lips puckered.
"Mwah" I kiss her.
"Lets go Mumma" she says pointing in the direction of Jett's room.
Later that night we're getting ready to head to Alex's birthday.
"Babe come on, we're gonna be..."
I forget the rest of the sentence as Charlie walks out of our bathroom.
CHARLIE'S POV:
"...Late" he breathes out as he looks me up and down.
"You like?" I ask as I spin around, showing him every angle.
I'm wearing a tight black strapless mini dress with a sweetheart neckline and red pumps. He's wearing a black dress shirt and pants, looking sexy as hell.
"WOW! I love!" he replies crossing the room and wrapping his arms around me, his hands moving down to my bum as he kisses me.
"Stop, we need to go" I giggle unconvincingly.
"Who cares if we're a little late" he says kissing my neck.
"Heath will! He's been planning this party for months"
"Damn it" he sighs.
"Can you get my red clutch for me?" I ask as I spray some perfume on myself.
"Just promise me we can leave early so I can rip that dress off you" he smirks, passing me my clutch.
The party was in full swing at Angelo's as Alex stumbles up to me.
"Charlieeeee"
"Hey there boozey" I laugh. "Enjoying your party?"
"YES! I can't believe Heath did all this. I'm SO lucky" she smiles.
"You look amazing" I tell her.
"Me? Charlie look at you! You're glowing. Pregnancy TOTALLY agrees with you ...and just quietly, your rack looks AMAZING in that dress" she says grabbing my chest playfully.
"Pregnancy is good for bigger boobs!" I joke "...And don't know about glowing, you should have seen me this morning" I laugh.
"Oh have you been sick?" she asks sympathetically.
"Yeah a little. But Brax has been amazing, so helpful"
"We're pretty lucky with our Braxton boys" she beams looking over at Heath.
"Yeah we are" I say looking at my Husband who's laughing with one of his mates.
"Come on! Let's go dance"
"Here babe" Brax hands me a drink as he sneaks up behind me on the dance floor.
"Thank-you" I say giving him a quick kiss.
"AWWWWWWW" Alex drunkenly sighs as she's draped over Heath "You two are SO cute"
"She is. I don't know about my ugly mug" Brax laughs.
"Are you two going to find out what you're having?"
"We're not sure yet"
"Aren't you worried about giving birth?" Alex drunkenly asks.
"No, I have done it before" I laugh.
"I'd be SO worried about the baby breaking my vagina! What if you could never have sex again?"
"...Oh God, that's my cue to get you some water!" Heath laughs, pulling Alex towards the bar.
"She's a crack up" I laugh, turning around to look at Brax.
He has a straight face.
"...We'll still be able to have sex Brax!"
"Just making sure"
"You idiot" I laugh. "...Pretty sure having sex after Harper was born is how we got Jett and now this little one" I say, patting my tummy.
"Trust me baby, if I have anything to do with it, we'll still be doing it when we're old and grey" he jokes. ...I can't help it if my wife is the sexiest woman in the world and I can't stay away."
"Hardly. I definitely don't feel sexy." I say, pouting slightly.
"You are! ...and I will be more then happy to prove that to you" he smirks at me before kissing me deeply, slipping his tongue in my mouth.
"Mmmm, down boy" I whisper.
"You just wait til we get home"
"Can't wait" I smile, kissing him again. "I'm gonna check on the kids real quick" I say pulling his phone out of his pocket.
I can't hear very well from inside, because of all the people and the music, so I head downstairs.
"...That's great, thanks Cheryl. I'll see you tomorrow" I say hanging up from checking on the kids.
As I turn to head back inside the Surf Club I hear a man's voice behind me.
"Heyyy sexy"
I smile politely, continuing inside. He picks up his pace and steps in front of me, blocking the door.
"Please let me go inside"
"What's the russsh?" he slurs, his breath smells like a brewery.
"I just want to go back inside" I say, panic starting to set in.
"Shhhhh" he says, stroking my arm. I step back as he grabs my arm roughly.
"Let go of me" I say through gritted teeth, yanking my arm away.
"What's your problem bitch? We're just talking" he says stepping towards me as I try to run off.
"Now don't be a tease" he says menacingly as he grabs me and shoves me against the surf club wall.
"STOP" I scream as he pins me against the wall, forcing his leg between mine and covering my mouth. I can't move.
"Come on, you know you want it" he whispers in my ear.
I use all the strength I have to push him back, kneeing him in the groin.
"FUCKING SLUT" he shouts
Quick as a flash, the man is being slammed against the wall next to me by my husband. I've never seen him so furious.
"WHAT did you just say?" he spits out coldly, through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry man, I'm sorry" the man pleads, holding his hands up.
Brax throws the man on the ground, kneeling over him beating him viciously, anger taking over.
"Baby stop, you'll kill him" I plead, trying to pull him back.
"WHEN A WOMAN TELLS YOU TO STOP YOU FUCKING STOP"
"I'm sorry man, I didn't know she had a boyfriend" the man moans out in pain.
"SHE'S MY WIFE AND IF YOU EVER COME NEAR HER, OR THIS CLUB AGAIN, I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU"
Brax's tone sent a shiver down my spine. I'd never seen him so wild. The man ran away as soon as Brax loosened his grip, pure fear in his eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asks, standing up and holding me in his arms.
I lose it, bursting in to tears in his arms, my body shaking from the ordeal as I cling to him.
"Take me home, please just take me home" I cry against his chest.
He makes and excuse about me feeling sick and takes me home.
BRAX'S POV:
At home Charlie sits on the bed as I pace our bedroom, still furious from before.
The last time I was this angry was when I found Jake on the beach after he had shot her. Walking out to check on Charlie and finding her being attacked by that asshole brought all that anger back. I just saw red. Charlie and the kids, are the people I love most in this world and I will always do whatever I have to, to protect them.
"Babe, I'm ok. Please, just come sit down" she says patting a spot on the bed next to her.
"Are you sure you're ok?" I ask sitting down and wrapping my arm around her.
"Yes, I'm just worried about you. Babe, you're shaking and your heart is racing" she says rubbing my chest, trying to calm me down.
"I wanted to kill him, Charlie" I say seriously.
"I know"
"I should have gone with you outside"
"Hey, you didn't know what I was doing. I only went downstairs because I couldn't hear properly"
"The thought of anything happening to you makes me feel sick"
"Honey, nothing happened to me, because of you! ...and nothing's going to happen to me"
"I just..."
"Shhhh" She whispers, moving to sit in my lap as I rest my head on her chest.
"I love you" I say quietly.
"I know. I love you." She replies.
"Do you need anything?"
"Just my husband" she smiles.
She stands up, pulling me with her.
"Where we going?" I ask.
"Come have a bath with me. We can relax"
I smile, getting up off the bed picking her up bridal style. Placing soft kisses on her lips as I carry her into our bathroom.
Please review.
I have a plan for this story, but feel free to leave any suggestions or let me know anything you'd like to see happen.
Also, please tell which format you prefer, from their POV's like this chapter or from an outside perspective like previous chapters?
~CB.
xo