A week had gone by since Brax had left Charlie's, day one and two were fine for her she just avoided the house and kept herself busy, on day three Ricky seemed to be everywhere she looked. Assuming Brax had chosen her and hadn't the decency to let her know she rounded up her two closest friends and the kids and took off to a cabin for a few days. If she was gonna have to see them together every day she needed a little time away to get used to it.

Charlie yawned and rolled over as a message came through, squinting in the dark to see the time she groaned and opened the message. Seeing it was from Brax she sat up and read it again I miss you :(Sighing she looked over at a sleeping Ruby and rolled out of the bed.

"Mum?" Ruby asked sleepily as she crossed the room "it's like four am…what are you doing?"

"Making a call…go back to sleep," Charlie replied.

"Brax?" Ruby asked sitting up.

"What?" Charlie asked quickly, she hadn't told Ruby a thing about her and Brax-she thought she'd hid it very well.

Ruby scoffed "I'm not stupid mum, I know what's been going on with you and Brax and why you took us away."

Charlie sighed and walked back to the bed "that obvious huh?" she asked sitting down.

Ruby climbed out from under the covers and crawled down beside her "it's obvious you miss him, it's obvious he's on your mind a lot.

Charlie sighed again "I can't get him out of my head, I can't get the idea of him and Ricky into my head," she said and turned to face her "all those years I saw them together and it never bothered me but now…" she trailed off and stood up "now I feel like I wanna pull her head off every time I see her."

Ruby chuckled "you think Brax and Ricky are together?"

"Well yeah," Charlie replied "he hasn't called he hasn't been around and now I'm seeing her everywhere I go, it's like she's trying to rub it in," she huffed.

"Mum," Ruby laughed and shook her head "they're not together, Brax wants nothing to do with her, Case told me she's been hassling Brax so he and Kyle took Alex to the city for a few nights to get away from her…exactly what you're doing here."

"Oh," Charlie sad a few minutes later.

"Yes mum, oh," Ruby chuckled and crawled back into the bed "go call him and sort it out," she added and lay down.

Charlie chuckled to herself and slipped out of the room, closing the door over she made her way to the front door. Hayley and Bianca were in bed with their own kids she didn't want to wake them, slipping out she walked the few feet to the little lake and parked herself on a large rock, blowing out a deep breath she pressed call.

….

Somewhere in the city Brax had flung his phone down and walked to the bedroom to check in on Alex, Charlie hadn't replied, he knew she had seen the message it was marked as seen. Sighing he leaned against the door and watched Alex sleep, how could he prove he wanted to be with her if she wouldn't even answer him. Looking behind him as a bedroom door opened he shook his head as Kyle stumbled out "what are you doing up?" he asked.

"Could ask you the same thing," Kyle muttered sleepily as he walked to the kitchen.

Brax closed the door over and followed him "couldn't sleep," he said and sat at the table.

Kyle downed his water and turned to face him "Charlie or Ricky?" he asked.

"Charlie," Brax replied "she still wont answer me."

"I was talking to Case yesterday he said Ruby went away with her mum the same day as us, maybe she hasn't got her phone," Kyle said and sat beside him.

Brax looked over at him "what do you mean away? Why? Where did she go?"

Kyle chuckled and stood up "I don't know…Case did say Ricky was following her around, maybe she got fed up and took off," he said and walked to the door "and maybe she's not answering you because it's half four in the morning, get some sleep Brax we're heading home early, night!" he called and walked back to his room.

"Yeah, night," Brax muttered and stood up, walking to his phone he checked it to see had she called. Sighing at the blank screen he threw down the phone and walked to the bedroom. Just as he walked to the bed he heard it vibrating "it has to be her," he said as he hurried back out.

"Hello," he said quickly as his heart thumped against his chest.

"Hey," she said quietly.

Hey," he said in relief.

Charlie was silent for a moment "sorry it took me so long to call, I got your message but I woke Ruby trying to get out of the room."

Brax chuckled "it's okay, so, how are ya?" he asked awkwardly.

"Yeah, good," she replied "up the countryside with the girls and the kids…how are you?"

"I'm good," he replied "when will you be home?" he asked curiously.

"I think Hayls needs to go home tomorrow, she said something about Kayla needing to meet the new sitter," she replied.

Brax nodded even though she couldn't see him "I remember Noah saying something about that…can we talk then?"

"Brax," she sighed "I don't know, its only been a few days."

"Ricky is out of my life for good…I only want you Charlie, what can I do to make you see that?" he asked almost desperately.

Charlie bit on her lip she felt so bad, she could hear it in his voice, she looked behind her as she heard footsteps to see Hayley walking towards her "I gotta go, I'll call you when I'm home."

Brax sighed "will you please meet me?"

Charlie was silent for a moment "okay, I'll call you…I gotta go."

Brax smiled into the phone "thank you, I'll talk to you then, bye," he said and hung up.

"Work?" Hayley asked sitting beside her.

"No, Brax," she replied sending off a text.

So?"

"So it was Brax," she chuckled.

"Charlie." she giggled and swatted her on the arm "so what's happening?"

Charlie chuckled again "I don't know, we're gonna talk tomorrow."

"And Ricky?" Hayley asked curiously.

"Out of the picture apparently," Charlie replied and stood up.

"See," Hayley said and jumped off the rock "I told you he'd never go back to her."

"I know," Charlie replied as she let them back in "but I needed to get away from her, she was everywhere I went and kept giving me this smug smile."

"That's because she's a vindictive scheming little cow," Bianca said joining them.

Charlie chuckled "why is she getting to me so much?" she whined.

"Because you like Brax and think he can make you happy and she's the one person that can ruin it all," Hayley replied.

"I wouldn't worry about her Charlie, I spoke to Heath yesterday he said she wasn't trying as much to find Brax and Alex that she should be gone by the end of the day," Bianca said she'll be well gone when we get home tomorrow."

"Oh you talked to Heath did you?" Charlie smirked.

"Yes," Bianca blushed "he was worried about you."

Hayley scoffed "he could have called Charlie himself…any chance you two could be back on in the very very near future?"

Bianca chuckled "girls, you know what Heath is like-especially you," she said looking at Charlie. "He's so stubborn and manly, he'll never tell me his true feelings."

"True," Charlie nodded "but he does love you B and he misses Rocco."

"I know he does and I love him too," she sighed "I just wish he'd tell me how he feels, I mean we all know Rocco wasn't planned but it felt to me he was only with me because he had to be."

"That is not true and you know that," Charlie said defending him "he asked you millions of times were you sure you wanted him and you said yes."

"I know I know," she agreed "but to me it felt like he was just trying to do the right thing."

"Okay," Hayley drawled and stood up she'd witnessed one too many fights between these two over Heath "I don't know about you two but I'm gonna get some sleep before our beauty's wake…tomorrow you two idiots are gonna talk to the idiot Braxton's-no choice!" she called as she closed her door.

Charlie chuckled and stood up "she's right B, were standing in the way of or own happiness…we'll talk to them and have a few drinks in mine to fill each other in."

Bianca nodded and walked to her room "that's a plan…night Charlz," she said and closed her door.

…..

Brax was wide awake after talking to Charlie, going back to his phone he picked it up to see a message, opening it he smiled and read it again miss you too xx smiling wider he walked to his room, there was no point in going asleep Alex would wake soon then they could be on their way home…it couldn't come quick enough.

Just as he lay down he looked over at his phone as it lit up, thinking it was Charlie he picked up and frowned to see Heath on the screen personally saw Ricky outta the bay, you can come home now Bro, she ain't coming back.

Looking over at Alex he rolled off the bed and carried the phone to the kitchen and sat down. Dialing Heath he waited for him to answer "alright mate…what's that noise?" he asked pulling the phone away from his ear.

"She turned up wasted so I drove her to the city in her car, I'm waiting on a mate to pick me up and drive me back down," he replied.

"You didn't have to do that…where did you leave her?" he asked curiously.

Heath chuckled "left her in her car outside that bar…took the keys too," he laughed.

"Heath," Brax laughed "that'll just give her an excuse to come back."

"Ah I kid," Heath chuckled "I put them in the mail slot on the bar door, he'll open it tomorrow and get them."

Brax chuckled again "thanks for that mate."

"Don't thank me, if it brings you all home I'd do it again…have you heard from Charlie?" he asked curiously.

"Uh yeah," Brax replied and stood up as he heard Alex "she called a while ago, she's coming home tomorrow."

"Yes!" Heath yelled "and are you gonna talk or what's gonna happen?"

"We're gonna talk so we'll see what happens and take it from there," he replied.

"Bianca text me, she said we needed to talk too," Heath said a minute later.

"That's great mate," Brax smiled "maybe you two can work it out."

"Yeah, me too…I gotta go Brax, here's Sam, I'll see you lot tomorrow."

"Alright, see ya soon mate and thanks," Brax said and hung up.

Walking to the room he smiled at Alex "hello princess," he said and picked her up "shall we wake your uncle and have breakfast before we go home?" he asked as he walked to Kyle's room.

Pushing the door in he was surprised to see Kyle sitting up on his phone "what are you doing up?"

Kyle scoffed "coz you were so quiet," he said "Denny's coming later today she's sitting in the airport bored."

"Charlie's sister Denny?" Brax frowned "you still talk to her?"

"Uh yeah," Kyle replied "I just said I was talking to her."

Brax nodded "does Charlie know she's coming home?"

"Don't know," Kyle said and rolled out of the bed "come on then, let's get breakfast so we can get on the road," he added and walked by him.

Later that morning Charlie let herself and Ruby into their house "I'm going back to bed for a while," Ruby yawned and walked by her.

"You just woke up," Charlie chuckled as she went through the mail.

"I know but you lot kept me up last night, I'm still tired…there's messages on the machine!" she called as she walked up the stairs.

Charlie shook her head and walked to the machine, seeing three messages she pressed play after the first one she walked into the kitchen, grabbing a cup she stopped at the voice on the phone "Charlie, it's mum" groaning she walked back to the machine "I can't handle Denny anymore, she's out of control, I've sent her to you and your brothers to deal with, she should be there by this afternoon, call me and I'll fill you in." groaning again she pressed replay just to make sure she heard right.

Sighing when she had heard right she walked to her sofa and sat down, with Pete still recovering and her dad hanging about this was the last thing she needed. Denny was her twenty two year old sister that was a spoiled little brat, she always got her own way and loved nothing more than partying and getting into trouble-that was the reason her mother moved away with her.

"Well that's my night out off," she said and stood up, walking to her phone she picked it up and called Brax "hey," she said as soon as he answered.

"Hey," he replied "I just saw Hayley…you're back then?"

"And so are you," she chuckled "listen, about later," she started.

"Charlie, no," he groaned.

"It's not that," she cut in quickly "my sister is on her way…you remember what she's like?" she asked.

"Yes," Brax sighed "she's already been onto Kyle planning god knows what."

"Your guess is as good as mine…can we talk another time?" she asked.

"I guess so," he sighed "is it okay if I drop by with Alex for a bit?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be here all day…I'm sorry," she added.

"It's okay," he replied "I'm just on my way to check in on Angelo's, is an hour okay to drop over?"

"That's fine," she replied "I'll be here anyway."

"Okay, I'll see ya then," he said and hung up cursing Denny.

"Stupid kid," Charlie muttered and threw her phone down, she always knew how to ruin something she was looking forward to.

Walking to the kettle she groaned as a high ponytail bounced by the window, she hadn't as much time as she thought. Opening the door she was faced with her bubbly happy faced sister "Den," she greeted.

"Charlz," she smiled and hugged her tight before dropping her bag and walking by her.

Charlie rolled her eyes "this isn't a hotel Denise, you carry your own bag," she said stepping over it.

"Yes Mum," she huffed and picked it up.

….

A while later Charlie was close to tearing her hair out, Denny had only been there not even an hour and already she had stuff all over the place. Denise!" she hissed "pick up your goddamn stuff! I am not cleaning up after you! And you're sure as hell not messing my house up!"

"Geez Charlie I was in the shower relax!" Denny yelled back.

"I don't care! Clean it!" Charlie yelled and walked to the kitchen rubbing her temples.

"Bad time?" Brax asked from the back door.

Charlie looked over at him "hey, sorry, come in, she's here already and already doing my nut in…where's Alex?"

"In the buggy asleep outside," he replied and leaned against the counter "headache?" he asked as she rubbed her head again.

"Yes," she whined "it's her stressing me out already," she said and walked to the kettle.

Brax chuckled and walked up behind her "I'll make it," he said squeezing her shoulders.

"Thank you," she sighed and turned to face him, looking up at him her heart sped up as he stared back at her.

Brax moved a little closer "you have no idea how much I've missed you," he murmured and lowered his head. " I've never felt like this about anyone," he added and kissed her sweetly "I've been thinking about you since I left here last week," he said and kissed her again.

Charlie slid her hand onto his chest to push him away but found herself tugging him closer kissing him hard.

Sliding his hands onto her hips he pulled her closer as the kiss heated up.

"Charlie where's your…whoa!" Denny yelled covering her eyes.

Charlie and Brax broke apart, "what now?" Charlie sighed.

"I didn't know you two were together," Denny said looking from one to the other.

"What do you want Denny?" Charlie asked in her annoyed tone.

"I need to make up my bed before I go where's your spare sheets?" Denny asked eyeing Brax again.

"I'll do it…where are you going?" she asked.

"I'm going to meet Kyle," Denny replied and walked to door "I'll get outta your hair then."

"Denny you leave him alone!" Charlie called after her "he's not like you anymore!"

Denny stuck her head back in "there's a baby out here," she said and looked out "you know that right?"

"Yes," Brax chuckled "that's my daughter," he added.

"Geez Brax you get around…who's her mum?" she asked looking at Charlie "is it you?"

Charlie rolled her eyes "no Denny she's not mine, I think you would have noticed I was pregnant…then again it's you, maybe you wouldn't."

Denny glared at her "whatever, I'll be back later," she said and walked off.

"Don't attempt to come back here drunk or high!" Charlie yelled "I will kill you this time!"

Brax chuckled and pulled her to him "forget about her," he said and kissed her slowly.

Charlie pulled away after a minute "bring Alex in so we can sit in the living room."

"Are we gonna talk now?" he asked.

Charlie looked at the time "we can start," she said and walked into the living room.

A while later Charlie and Brax sat on the sofa, they had started talking but stopped when Ruby came down the stairs. Brax looked over at Alex as she bounced happily on Charlie's knee "I better get her home I forgot to pack her formula, that's her last bottle."

Charlie nodded and stood up "do you wanna get her in her buggy and I'll pack her stuff up?"

"No," he said and took Alex from her, strapping her into her buggy he walked back to Charlie "so we're on the same page now?" he asked sliding his hands onto her hips "you know it's you I want?"

Charlie played with the buttons on his shirt "I'm just afraid if I get too deep into this and she turns up again I-"

"Hey," he said cutting her off and tilting her chin up "she's gone she's not coming back alright. If she does turn up again she'll be told the same thing I told her last week, I only wanna be with you," he smiled and kissed her.

Charlie kissed him back and pulled away "what if she wants to see Alex?" she asked "she's her mum Brax can you really keep her from her?"

"I don't know Charlie," he sighed "she didn't want her, she just dumped her and took off, I want to keep her away from her but another part of me wants her to see her. I don't want her hating me when she's older and asking questions."

Charlie nodded and looked up at him "it's not an easy decision to make, but Ricky is her mum and I know if I was her no matter what I did I'd still want to see her."

Brax looked down on her "you think I should call her and sort out visitation or something?"

Charlie sat on the arm of the chair "I'm not telling you what to do Brax this is gonna be your decision and what you think is best for Alex, but for now I'd let it die down and see if she bothers getting in touch again."

Brax nodded "can I come back over later?" he asked "I'll ask one of the boys to watch her…I wanna talk properly-lay it all out."

Charlie nodded "I'm supposed to be having the girls over but Hayls and Leah have already cancelled so I'm sure B wouldn't mind…bring Alex if you want I don't mind her being here."

"I know you wouldn't mind," he said tugging her to him "but I want us to spend some time together without anyone else for a while."

Charlie chuckled "there is no time together when you have a small baby like that, Ruby is nineteen and sometimes still she's hanging out of me."

Brax chuckled and kissed her quickly "I'll see what I can do," he said and looked behind him as the door slammed.

"Wanna take it off the hinges while you're at it?" Charlie asked as Denny hurried by her

"Not now Charlie okay," she whimpered and hurried up the stairs.

Brax grabbed Alex's bag "I'll leave you to it," he said and walked to the back door.

"I'll call you in a bit, I better go see what's wrong with her majesty," she giggled.

Brax chuckled and kissed her "I'll talk you then," he said and went on his way.

Charlie closed the door and sighed, walking to the stairs she looked up them and sighed again before making her way up.

…..

Charlie knocked on the spare room door "Denny?" she called and pushed it in, finding her crying into a pillow she walked to the bed and sat down on the side "what's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing!" she sobbed gripping the pillow tighter.

"Clearly it's nothing," Charlie said and tugged on her elbows "come on, talk to me."

Denny cried harder "just leave me alone Charlie!"

"If something's happened you can tell me," she tried a minute later.

"I said leave me alone!" Denny screeched.

"Alright," Charlie said and stood up "I'm not mum, I'm not gonna mollycoddle you until you tell me what's wrong," she said and walked to the door "I'll be downstairs if you change your mind," she said and closed the door behind her.

"What's with her? She's like a banshee up there," Ruby asked from the kitchen.

Charlie walked in to see her and Casey sitting at the counter "hey Case and I don't know Rubes she's telling me to leave her alone as usual."

"We just came from Case's Kyle is in a right mood after seeing her, just stormed in before we left telling us the same thing," Ruby added.

"There you have it then," Charlie said as she made herself coffee "they've had a row."

Ruby chuckled "knowing them it's something stupid," she said and stood up "is it okay if I stay at Casey's tonight?"

"Sure sweetie, just make sure you have your insulin," Charlie replied and walked to the living room. Sitting down and turning on the tv she groaned as her phone beeped, pulling it out and reading the message she smiled be over at 8 Rubes and Case taking Alex xx smiling again she replied and threw her phone down, she was gonna enjoy a bit of me time before he came over.

Looking at the ceiling she sighed when she could hear Denny still crying, she looked behind her as Ruby crossed the room "Rubes you try will you?" she asked "I'm not trying her again," she added.

"I'll try," she sighed "but you know what she's like."

"At least get her to shut up," Charlie called after her.

Ruby giggled and stuck her head over the rail "you know her and Kyle dated for a while right?"

"No!" Charlie gasped.

Ruby giggled again "that's probably why she won't talk to you," she said and went up the stairs.

Charlie groaned and threw herself back on the sofa the drama had already started.

Later that evening Charlie was woken by someone shaking her, getting her bearings she looked up to see Brax leaning over her "hey," she said croakily and sat up "sorry, must have dropped off."

"It's alright," he chuckled and sat on the table across from her "we need to talk."

"I know," she yawned and stood up "can we have coffee first?" she asked.

"Charlie," he said tugging her back "we need to talk now…it's about Denny and Kyle."

Charlie groaned and sat back down "what's she done now?"

Brax sighed heavily "I know what's wrong with her."

Charlie frowned and looked behind her as she heard footsteps, seeing Denny on the stairs she stood up "are you gonna tell me what's going on or is Brax?"

Denny looked down at her feet "Denny!" Charlie yelled causing her to jump "I'm pregnant!" she blurted out.

Charlie's mouth fell open, she started at her for a good two three minutes before she moved "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard your right, you're what?" she asked taking a step closer to her.

"I'm pregnant," Denny muttered and sat on the stairs "and it's Kyle's," she sighed.

Charlie's mouth fell open again "Kyle's? how can it be Kyle's? you're here a few hours!" she yelled.

"He came to see me a few months back," she muttered "we went out got a hotel room and…" she trailed off and looked at Charlie "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Charlie stared at her for another minutes before turning on her heels "I need a drink," she said and walked to the kitchen.

"What do I do now?" Denny whispered.

Brax shrugged "go see Kyle and deal with it," he said and stood up "give her time to wrap her head around it," he added and followed her. "Charlie?" he asked as she stared at the fridge.

"Huh?" she asked and looked over at him.

"Are you okay?" he asked walking to her.

Charlie nodded "I'm just…how can…that child gives me such a headache," she said rubbing her head "I don't understand her at all," she added and sat down.

"Well realistically," he said sitting beside her "it's not your problem, she's old enough to deal with this herself-they both are."

"I know," she sighed "but she's my little sister and I gotta look out for her."

Brax looked up and winked at Denny as she nervously slipped by them out the back door. Taking Charlie by the hands he tugged her up "how about we forget about it tonight and have that talk we were supposed to," he said leading her to the living room.

Charlie sat down and lay her head back "why is someone always in the way?" she groaned.

Brax leaned over her "not tonight there're not," he said and kissed her slowly.

Charlie slid her hand onto his cheek and deepened the kiss slightly, he was right Denny was big enough to look after herself.

….

A while later Charlie and Brax sat on the sofa, they both looked down as Brax's phone rang, seeing Ricky flash on the screen he sighed and cancelled it. Looking over at Charlie he smiled quickly "don't worry about her."

Charlie nodded and lay her head on his shoulder "she's the least of my problems," she replied and sighed as his phone rang again "maybe you should just answer her."

Brax looked down at his phone "it's not her," he said and picked it up "hello?" he asked. Looking over at Charlie he held up one finger and stood up, walking to kitchen he continued his conversation.

Coming back a minute later Charlie looked up "everything okay?" she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded and pulled her to him "just a meeting for a new supplier I forgot about."

"When is it?" she asked.

"Thursday at six, he was just making sure it was still on before he drove down….I'm gonna have to bring Alex with me," he sighed "Thursday is the one day we're all out of the house."

Charlie thought for a moment "I'm on nights this week I can take her," she offered.

"Thanks," he smiled and pulled her closer "but I don't wanna keep asking you."

Charlie tilted her head and kissed him "you didn't ask and you know I love having her."

Brax nodded "alright then if you insist," he chuckled.

Charlie giggled and snuggled into him "I'm getting kinda hungry do wanna order in?" she asked.

Brax pulled her up "no, I wanna take you out, and now's the perfect time."

Charlie chuckled "I'll have to get changed," she said pulling away from him.

"You look fine," he said tugging her back to him" we're only going to Angelo's anyway."

"I know but I've been wearing these clothes all day," she giggled and pulled away from him "just let me change real quick," she added and ran up the stairs before he could say anything else.

Brax shook his head and followed her, getting to her room he leaned against the door and watched her slide her shorts off "or we could stay here and go in a while."

Charlie turned and saw him looking her up and down, smirking she pulled off her shirt leaving her in her underwear . "or," she said walking to him "we could lose the clothes and order a take out."

Brax groaned as he slid his hands up her side, stepping into the room he kicked the door closed "it's the right thing to do," he chuckled and kissed her hard.

Lifting her onto his hips he carried her to the bed and climbed up over her, settling himself on her Charlie sighed as his phone rang. Sliding her hand into his back pocket she pulled it out and looked at the caller "it's her again," she muttered.

Brax took the phone from her, cancelled the call and switched off the phone "don't care," he said and threw it on the ground. Moving back to her he tilted her chin up "lose the worried face," he said and kissed her sweetly "she won't be getting between us," he added and kissed her slowly.

A/N hope you all enjoyed that one, no updates till late next week as I'm going away for a few days, cya soon JJ