Authors Note: I do NOT own Home and Away! All credit to the writers.

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Please Review! Would love to hear what you think.

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Chapter Ten:

Charlie walked out of the bedroom to see Brax lying on the couch, his mouth open as he snored lightly. It was clear he was tired and Charlie couldn't help but feel guilty, he had been trying extra hard with the twins all because she couldn't bear to be in the same room as him so she spent most of the time hiding – Charlie could admit she was afraid to face him, afraid to get close to him because she was still trying to work out her own feelings.

Best friends was what they used to be, parents to two beautiful children was what they were now. Partners were what they had always been but boyfriend and girlfriend was something Charlie had never considered.

She was afraid It wouldn't work, if it didn't work what would they do? how would they maintain a friendship if the hurt was there.

"Charlie?"

Charlie froze as she saw Brax staring at her, she hadn't meant to be caught but looking at him was hard to resist. He just had this undeniable quality about him, his features were like an addiction – one here body craved.

"Charlie, are you there?" Brax asked as he reached out to touch her causing her to startle and take a step back.

"Huh?"

"I didn't mean to scare you but you were staring" Brax told her and Charlie shook her head.

"You didn't scare me" Charlie muttered and Brax shook his head.

"Talk to me Charlz, you've been held up in your room all week" Brax said softly but Charlie shook her head – she couldn't bring herself to talk to him, she didn't know what to stay.

"I can't" Charlie murmured and Brax raised an eyebrow.

"You can but you won't" Brax muttered as he turned around, Charlie sighed.

She could see she was hurting him, it was clear in his features but she didn't know what to do. By not talking to him it was hurting but if she did talk to him and reveal what she was thinking it could possibly crush him and then in turn it would crush her.

"Brax…"

"No Charlie, I get it – you don't feel the same. But I didn't expect it to be like this, I understand you don't return my feeling but do we really have to stop being friends?" Brax asked with a saddened expression.

Charlie cringed as she saw the broken look on his face, he was wrong but could she bring herself to tell him that?

"I…Brax it's not like that. I do, I always have loved you and I don't want to stop being friends" Charlie said softly and Brax scoffed.

"If you returned my feelings then we wouldn't be having a problem" Brax said and Charlie sighed, she could see how her words – how her actions were affecting him.

Brax had always been the strong one, he always knew what he wanted and he went after it – the consequences could be damned. Her heart broke as she realised that she was the one causing him pain, she was the one hurting him when through the ten years they had been friends she expected it to be the other way round.

"Just tell me you don't feel anything Charlie, just tell me and I will forget all this" Brax said as he walked towards her.

Brax's arms went to her hips as he pulled her flush against him, he heard her breath quicken as he leaned down and plant his lips firmly on hers claiming them. The passion he poured into the kiss was something Charlie had never felt before, to shocked to move, to speak – Charlie was ashamed to say she didn't kiss back until he pulled away. His lips were inches from hers and the slight of them made her knees quiver.
It was on instinct that she leaned forward and placed her plump lips back on his, her arms made their way around his neck holding him to her tightly as her tongue traced his bottom lip begging for permission which was granted almost immediately. Their tongues battled for dominance but Charlie couldn't pretend to fight, she left him take the lead as his hands made their way down her hips to the curve of her bottom. His hands cupped her as he lifted her into the air, he kept his lips firmly on her as she wound her legs around his waist.

"Brax" Charlie moaned in between kisses, she could feel his lips spreading into a smirk and had to resist the urge to slap him – the present time was no time to be a smartass. "Brax I need you" Charlie whispered as she pulled her lips away from his, her fingertips tracing his jaw line as his soft lips left butterfly kisses on her neck.

"I can't Charlie" Brax whispered in between kisses, her body when stiff in his arms causing him to chuckle.

"Why? Why can't you?" Charlie demanded to know, she could feel Brax smiling against her skin – his hot breath ticking her neck causing her breath to hitch.

"I need to hear you say it" Brax whispered as hi hands made there way under her top to her bare naked skin of her back.

"Say what Brax?" Charlie moaned as he kissed her shoulder, she needed to feel his lips on hers again – she needed to feel his length inside her as they made love.

Any feelings of resistance were gone, all Charlie needed was him.

"Say you love me Charlie" Brax said softly as his fingertips brushed against her skin causing an involuntary shutter – she didn't know if she could do it, use the words he needed to hear. "Please Charlie, say it – say it and I'll make sweet love to you. Be mine forever Charlie, I'll never leave you. I love you" Brax said as he pecked lip sightly, Charlie sighed in contentment as she stared into his deep green eyes.

"I love you Brax, I love you too"

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Authors Note: Please Review! Let me know what you think.