Another update for you ...and just quietly, there may also be another update for this and an update for FSR within the next few days )

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2 months had passed, and things were going well. Charlie was 5 months along in her pregnancy and the Braxton clan were getting ready to celebrate Jett's 2nd birthday.

"I want a birfday party too!" Harper pouts.

"Baby, you only just turned 4, you did have a birthday party." Brax explains as he's getting the barbeque ready.

"I want another one!"

"Harper Jade Braxton! Don't be selfish." Brax says firmly.

"I'm not shellfish." She says frowning, Brax smiles at the mini Charlie.

"This is Jett's big day and he needs his big sister to make sure he has fun."

"Jetty always has fun, he's a baby." She argues.

"He's not a baby anymore."

Harper just looks at him.

"Ok then, he needs his big sister to help him eat lots of ice cream and cake"

Harpers face lights up.

"I can do that!" she squeals.

"Can do what?" Charlie asks, walking outside in her silk dressing gown.

Brax's eyes fall immediately to his wife's long, sexy legs on display.

"Mumma! Daddy said I gets to eat lots of cake today!" she says, running up to her Mum.

"Oh, did he now?" Charlie questions, looking at her husband.

"Uh huh, I'm a big sister and I gots to help Jetty".

"Uh huh." Charlie replies slowly, obviously missing something.

"...Well why don't you go be a good big sister and help him build a big castle in the sandpit."

"Ok Mumma" Harper replies as she ran off to the sandpit to join her brother who was playing with some new toys.

Charlie looks at Brax, who looks a little guilty.

"Cheat Parenting 101 ...bribery." He answers, not needing to hear the question.

Charlie raises her eyebrow.

"It was the only way I could get her to stop going on about having another party of her own. I didn't want her cracking the shits all day..."

Charlie smiles, knowing how determined their daughter can be.

"You're lucky you're hot." She says with a laugh.

"No babe, I'm lucky YOU'RE hot!" He smirks as he leans down to place a kiss on her lips, his hands finding their way to her butt, then her waist.

"I can't believe he's 2 already." Charlie sighs, watching their babies playing happily.

"I know, it's flown by and what's even crazier is how fast this little one is growing." He smiles, placing his hands around his wife's pregnant belly.

"Tell me about it. At this rate, I won't be able to put my shoes on by next week!"

Brax chuckles at his wife's exaggeration.

"Well then lucky for you, you've got a husband who will do whatever you need."

"Awww, I am lucky, thank you babe." Charlie says, giving her husband another kiss.

"Mumma, can we have a swim in the pool?" Harper shouts across the yard.

"No baby. Uncle Heath and Aunty Alex will be here soon to take you and Jett to the beach."

"So what exactly is the plan for today?" Brax asks.

"Well, you brother and Alex are coming over soon to take the kids to the beach so we can set up for the party in peace"

"Hmmm...does that mean there will be time to..." Brax stops as he begins kissing his wife's neck.

"If you're lucky." She giggles.

"Oi, knock it off you two!" Heath says as he walks outside with Alex.

"Where's my little cutie and my little champ?" He calls out as Harper and Jett run up to them for cuddles.

"Happy Birthday handsome" Alex says giving Jett a kiss on the cheek. "...How old are you today?"

"Twoooo" Jett answers, holding up two fingers.

"Wow, that many? Such a big boy!" she smiles.

"Are we going to the beach now, Uncie Heaf?" Harper asks her Uncle.

"We sure are, Shorty. You ready?"

"YEAH!" Harper shouts excitedly.

"Beach." Jett says happily.

"Everything they need is in here." Charlie says, handing Alex a beach bag she had packed earlier.

"Righto, let's get your boards and go guys"

"Byeeeeee." Harper shouts running inside, closely followed by Jett.

"Hey! Where are my kisses?" Charlie calls out after their children.

Harper runs back to the door and blows a kiss before running back inside, her little brother mimics her actions.

"Oh, yeah, No worries. I only gave birth to you, but what does that matter?" Charlie calls out again after them.

Brax, Heath and Alex all laugh as Heath and Alex follow them out.

Later that morning Brax noticed Charlie had been inside for a long time after finishing the decorations. He headed to their bedroom to investigate and was greeted by their wardrobe and drawers wide open and clothes chucked everywhere. His wife sitting on the bed in her underwear.

"Whoa, did the wardrobe explode?" He jokes.

Charlie looks up at him with tears in her eyes.

"NOTHING FITS!" she cries, frustrated. "I'm a big fat whale!"

"Charlie you're pregnant, you're supposed to get bigger"

"OH SO YOU AGREE THAT I'M A WHALE!"

"No, you're not a whale. You're beautiful. But babe, I'm not going to pretend I don't like the fact that you're getting bigger, because that means that our baby is too..."

Charlie just looks at him, a slight pout on her lips and a similar frown to the one he saw on his daughter earlier.

"Isn't that what you want too, our baby to be big and strong and healthy?" Brax asks softly.

"No, I want it to be little and cute and healthy."

He smiles at his frustrated wife.

"How are you supposed to find me sexy when I've got THIS, which is still yet to reach its full gigantic size?" Charlie points to her belly.

"You know I think you're beautiful Charlie, always have and always will."

"You have to say that, because of this thing." She pouts, pointing to her wedding ring.

"Charlie..."

"Look I'm just going to have a bath, try and relax before people start coming, ok?" she says getting up off the bed, wiping her tears and walking in to their bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Brax sighs, picks up his phone and heads down stairs.

After a few rings, the person he's calling answers.

"Ruby, where are you right now? ... Good! I need your help. I'm in way over my head..."

Charlie took her time in the bathroom, she took a long relaxing bath, did her makeup and blow dried her hair. After an hour and a half, she decided to try the wardrobe again considering at this point, her dressing gown was becoming her best option.

She walked out of her bathroom to find her eldest daughter sitting on the bed, waiting for her.

"Ruby, Hi. Did you clean everything up?" Charlie asks, looking around at the spotless room.

"Nope, that would be Brax. I am here, because I have something for you" She explains, holding up a large bag from Charlie's favourite clothing boutique.

"What's this?" Charlie asks, taking the bag.

"This, is your husband being pretty amazing." Ruby smiled as she kisses her Mum on the cheek. "And they're not maternity ones either, so you can use them whenever." she says as she walks out the door and heads downstairs.

Charlie looks in the bag and begins pulling garments out.

There was a beautiful range of dresses, maxi and mini, all in Charlie's size and all capable of holding her ever expanding belly. Some were loose and flowy and others were tight, with material that could stretch for if and when she wanted to show off her bump in something a little sexier. They were all gorgeous.

"Do you like them?" Brax's voice comes from the door.

"I love them." Comes Charlie's tearful response.

"Hey..." Brax says softly, moving across the room to hold Charlie in his arms. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, they're perfect. You're perfect." Charlie sobs in to his chest.

"Then why are you crying?" Brax laughs.

"I can't believe you did this for me."

"It's just a few clothes, Charlie. You're carrying my kid in there, for the third bloody time!"

Charlie laughs.

"...And I don't want you to ever feel that way about yourself. You will always be the sexiest woman in the world to me. You know that, right?"

She nods, knowing he means it.

"What did I do to deserve you?" she asks, looking up at him.

Brax pretends to think for a second.

"Hmm...Arrest me a handful of times?" he smirks.

"Well I do love a man in handcuffs." she smiles, leaning up to kiss him, slipping her tongue in his mouth.

"Mmm..." he moans in to the kiss. "...Works for me. Now, pick one of those dresses and get your gorgeous arse downstairs, we have guests!" he says, playfully slapping Charlie on the bum.

Charlie chose a white flowy maxi dress and a tan coloured belt that brought it in, just above her belly, accentuating her bump and her breasts which were slightly larger now, thanks to the pregnancy.

Maybe this does have its perks, she thinks to herself.

The afternoon had flown by, the kids were all running around playing with their cousin Darcy, Leah's son VJ and a few of their friends from playgroup. Also, Indi and Romeo's almost 3 year old daughter, Ella and Bianca and Liam's 4 year old son, Seth. Most of Summer Bay had also turned up for the party.

Charlie had been getting compliments the whole time about how amazing she looked, the look on her face made Brax smile.

"You are absolutely glowing, Charlie." Leah comments, Roo, Gina and Colleen all agree.

"I want to know where I can get that dress, Charlie, it's hot!" Indi, who is heavily pregnant, chimes in.

"They're right, Darl, you look stunning. So do you Indi, love." Irene adds.

"When don't they look stunning though? ...bitches!" Bianca laughs.

"So do you know what you're having?" Marilyn asks.

"You did good." Casey says, as he and Ruby come up beside Brax who is watching his wife laugh with her girlfriends.

"Ruby did good, I just paid for them." Brax laughs. "Thanks again."

"No worries, any excuse to shop, especially with someone else's money." She laughs.

"We were out getting Jett's presents anyway." Casey continued.

"Still, I owe you both."

"Daddy, heeeelp!" Harper squeales, hiding behind Brax's legs.

"What's up, Princess?"

"VJ and Darcy twyna get me. They monsters" Harper answers, trying to squeeze her head between her Father's legs.

"Well you know who else is a monster?" Ruby says.

Harper shakes her head seriously.

"ME! Rahhhhh!" Casey yells scooping his niece up in his arms, blowing raspberries on her neck as she erupts in a fit of giggles.

Casey, Ruby, Dex, Xavier, Sasha, April and Romeo ran around with the kids, the garden was full of chatter and laughter.

Brax excused himself from a conversation with Liam, Sid and Alf and took a seat on the steps, watching the kids play. Just as he sat down, Jett came up and climbed on to Brax's lap.

"You having fun mate? Brax asks.

Jett nods.

"Jett Monstaaa, Rahhhhh!" Jett says, mimicking his Uncle Casey.

Brax laughs, as his son settles against his chest, quite content to just sit with his Dad and watch.

A little while later Charlie decides it's time for the Birthday cake.

"Hey my handsome men." her voice comes from behind them as she kneels down to kiss them both.

"Mummy." Jett smiles up at her.

"You ready for your cake, sweetie?"

"Birfday cake." Jett replies.

"That's right little man" Brax answers, scooping Jett up in his arms and helping Charlie up, as they make their way over to the table. Cheryl takes Jett from Brax while he carries out the birthday cake.

Everyone sings happy birthday followed by a chorus of cheers led by John and Harper helping Jett blow out his candles.

Cheryl cuts the cake as Morag serves it to everyone.

"Now you get to go first, birthday boy." Morag says, handing Jett a bowl with some cake and ice cream.

"Me next! Me next!" Harper says urgently "I'm a big sister, I gots to help Jetty with the cake."

Everyone laughs.

"What do you say?" Brax asks.

"Pweeeeease Nanna Mowag, pweeease Granma Cheryl." Harper looks up at them with puppy dog eyes.

"Aww, how can ya say no to that face ay?" Alf coos.

"You can't, trust me!" Brax chuckles, causing everyone to laugh again.

"Thank-you." Charlie whispers as she sits down on Brax's lap.

"For What?" Brax asks, confused.

"For everything. Putting up with my moods, giving me our beautiful babies, always putting our needs above your own. For just being you."

"Ditto." He smiles.

"I love you." She smiles back, leaning in for a kiss.

"I love you." He says as their lips meet. "...And don't you ever forget it."

Charlie couldn't help but smile. She had everyone that mattered there celebrating with her little family. Sure they had their ups and downs, but they were perfect to her.

As she looked around at their friends and family, she couldn't possibly imagine life getting any better than this, or anything happening to change their perfect life together.

Little did she know...

Dun dun dun! ;)

Please Review.

~CB

xo