"Looks like you're having twins… Congratulations!"
Charlie gasped and in eager anticipation gave Joey the biggest hug and smothered her with kisses. Both of them crying with happiness. Neither of them had noticed Aiden had fainted and was now lying on the floor. Sid attended to him straight away. The shock of being father to twins had been a most unexpected turn of events.
"Oh Aiden!" Joey cried out as she and Charlie broke their embrace.
"He's ok, just shocked I think" chuckled Sid. "I'll organize the nurses to come and look after the three of you, and I'll organize an extra bed."
"No need to get one for me Sid" Charlie replied with a smile. "I'll rest up with Joey, Aiden can have my bed".
"Ok… it's a little unconventional but ok" Sid replied to her request.
Ruby replied laughing "What part of this family is in any way conventional Sid. Honestly?"
All five of them looked at each other and laughed when they realized that she was right. Charlie and joeys family was a most unique one. No other family in Summer Bay had one like it.
Sid left the trio with Ruby and organized for them to stay the afternoon just to keep an eye on both Aiden and Charlie.
…
Upon their return home, Joey was exhausted so decided to rest up while Charlie and Aiden organized dinner with Ruby.
"Charlie what are you doing about Brax?" Aiden asked suddenly.
Putting down the knife she was preparing the salad with, she slowly turned around to face Aiden realizing that he was just looking out for them. "Honestly Aiden, I've left it with Georgie. I've separated the distance between me and Brax deliberately. I should have learnt from what happened with Joey's case but I didn't. Now too much has happened since Joeys return home that I'm afraid one wrong move and I'll lose everything I have now."
Aiden nodded in acknowledgement, choosing his words carefully "I don't want you to hurt Joey… I know that you never want to intentionally hurt her… but this stuff with Brax, she told me it's been happening since she came back."
"Yeah, it has.. That's why I have given the case to Georgie. I can trust she'll do the right thing and look after us. She's got my back."
Realizing that for now there was nothing more he could do Aiden decided to divert conversation. For now they had to wait for Georgie's update.
Coming up close to Charlie he whispered "So are you going to go the whole distance with Joey?"
"What do you mean? Marriage and all that?"
"Are you going to make an honest woman of her?"
"Aiden, I'm not going to hurt her, I know you worry about that. You're her best friend and I know you're looking out for her but seriously there is now way I will do anything intentionally to hurt her. As far as the future is concerned I want to take it one step at a time. Right now I just want to be supportive with the pregnancy and all. Now with twins, Joeys going to need all the help and support I can give" Charlie replied.
"Ruby and I will be here to help too you know that don't you?"
"Thanks Aiden, but Ruby's going to go to uni and so for now I just want to make sure everything if ready for the twin's arrival and I'm not worrying about what happens after."
"You're still not answering my question Charlie"
"What question is that?" she quizzed.
"Will you make an honest woman of her?"
"Aiden I know you want happy endings all round but seriously since Joey came back I've messed things up so many times that just getting to this point is an accomplishment. I love her; I'm in love with her. I can't imagine life without Joey. Now with the babies on their way I want to the right thing. No piece of paper will change my commitment to Joey. I want to grow old with her by my side, surely you can understand that."
"Yeah I do" he sighed as memories of Belle dying and the family he never got to have with her came flooding back.
Patting her on the back he left her to the finish preparing the salad as he went to finish setting the table. "I'm proud of you Charlie. I can see Joey thinks the world of you and as long as you live up to your side of the bargain she will be there for you every step of the way."
Charlie smiled as she realized the meaning behind Aiden's words. In his own way he was giving their relationship his blessing but if Charlie were to ever stuff it up and hurt Joey, it would be Aiden she would have to deal with in the aftermath. She shuddered at the thought that she lose everything she has now. Her life was where she wanted it now with Joey. Their relationship had moved forward rapidly since Joey became pregnant. Now more than ever she wanted to do the right thing by her family. Protecting it was her number one priority.
A knock at the door broke her out of her thoughts. "Georgie" she exclaimed as she opened the door.
"Hi Charlie. Is Joey around?"
"She's having a rest, we're getting dinner done. Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"I'm still on duty, but thanks for the offer. I wanted to pop by and give an update of what happened with Brax."
"Cool, Aiden and Ruby can stay for this then. I'll fill Jo in later".
"Brax is being held at the station until the prison transfer van comes in the morning. He had broken the agreement that was reached by his lawyers. He was placed on a good behavior bond but the AVO that you had set up, essentially he violated it. SO I threw the book at him on every charge possible. Brax has his lawyers on it to get him out but the judge had enough of him this afternoon. I'll keep you posted on any other developments but for now, you are safe but with the River Boys in uproar I suggest you lock your doors and always go out in twos. You know the rules; always let someone know where you're heading and when you'll be back, and all that.
"Thanks Georgie." The trio asked a few more questions and as Georgie headed out the door they offered some dinner to take with her.
"Phew, that's a relief" Ruby acknowledged.
"Yeah… now to let Joey know" Charlie agreed.
"She'll be happy no doubt; you guys have been in limbo with Brax on the loose. The only concern now is retaliation by his crew" Aiden replied.
"You have a point but for now we follow Georgie's instructions and any problems you ring the station ok"
Both Aiden and Ruby nodded in agreement and finished off dinner as Charlie went to wake Joey up.