Hi everyone, I am really disheartened with the amount of reviews that I have been getting, for the last chapter I got ONE review! All of my regular reviews have stopped reviewing and I am just growing more and more concerned that you are losing interest in the story, so I have decided that if I don't get a lot of reviews I may have to wrap this story up. Which is really annoying because I love writing this story and I have so much farther to go but I don't want to keep being disheartened by the lack of support. Anyway this is a family one including Cooper of course. Now I really want to hear what you would like to see more of whether it's more Ruby and Casey or even more Bella and Cooper, I just need to know so that I can make this chapter better and so that you will enjoy it more! Okay on with the story and don't forget to REVIEW! Dannielle xoxo

[DISCLAIMER/COPYRIGHT: I do not own any of the existing characters or storylines in Home and Away but any characters, storylines or ideas used in this story are strictly copyrighted and are not to be used by any other person/s without written permission of the author of this story. Thank-you.]

BRAX POV

Today we were having a family picnic at the beach. Bella had been teaching Ruby to cook so the food that was edible came with us along with a hamper from the diner. We had spread out two large red and white checked blankets on the sand, Charlie sat on the blanket with Mckenzie in between her legs, a secure grasp on her. Ever since Mckenzie had been released from hospital, Charlie had hardly ever let her out of her sight, even at night I would hear her go into the nursery and check on her. I understood where she was coming from, I admit I was worried the first time I left her after what happened but I knew that the man who did this was behind bars and that she was ultimately safe. Bella was feeling guilty and hurt and had hardly said anything to either Charlie or I since she found out what was going on. I hated that she felt that way, I know that she is the only reason that Mckenzie is here today, I know that Charlie feels bad for hurting Bella but it still doesn't change anything, she just won't let Mckenzie go. I decided it was time she let her go for a bit.

I walked up the sand towards Charlie who looked up at me and smiled, I kneeled down in front of her and reached for Mckenzie, Charlie's grip tightened "what are you doing?" she asked "taking her down to play with the rest of her family" I said smiling at my daughter "no it's not safe down there" she said shaking her head "Charlie it's shallow water, and I will keep her safe" I said calmly "no Brax!" she snapped "Well you know what Charlie, she is my daughter too and you need to realise that this obsession is ridiculous and you are hurting everyone around you by not trusting them especially Bella!" I snapped back "well it's her fault in the first place!" she cried back "No! It's not Charlie and how dare you say that, she was attacked by a low life who didn't know her from a bar of soap and because she did exactly what you would have done – not back down and sent his to prison her came after her! And if you don't remember Bella is the only reason Mckenzie is safe! She saved her life, now she feels guilty enough about what happened and I am not going to let you make it worse by not letting her near her own god damn niece, that's not fair and you know it!" I snapped back angrily before carefully taking Mckenzie from Charlie and carrying her down the beach.

I walked over to Bella and handed Mckenzie to her, she looked at me nervously "are you sure Charlie is okay with this" she asked, I nodded "yeah" I said. She smiled as she held Mckenize close "hey baby girl" she whispered bouncing her around gently, Mckenzie started giggling and flapping her hands around, Bella looked to the top of the beach where she saw Charlie standing and watching, I knew she could see the concern on her face as she handed her straight over to me before heading into the water. I turned to Charlie and shook my head before walking slowly into the water.

HEATH POV

We were all sitting around the picnic blankets when Bianca squeezed my hand and nodded "ah guys we have an announcement to make!" I said happily, everyone diverted their attention to us "I'm pregnant!" Bianca butted in before I could speak, joy covered everyone's faces "oh my god congratulations!" Ruby squealed as everyone hugged us. Bianca was beaming and I could tell by the way my face hurt I was too. "Okay who wants to play touch footy!" I cried "yeah!" everyone yelled "Cooper?" I asked looking at him, he was standing just to the right of me and had his arm wrapped around the front of Bella "ah yeah sounds good" he said I nodded "okay girls against boys!" I said "okay come on Darcy" Bella cried taking my daughters hand and following the other girls.

We marked out the goal lines and got ready to play. I passed the ball to Cooper who threw it to Casey who dropped it. Bella scooped it up and ran along the sand until Cooper came up behind her and pulled her back kissing her cheek and taking the ball from her "good one Cooper!" I yelled as he passed it to Brax who scored the first goal. I hi-fived Brax and nodded at Cooper. We continued to play for another hour before we finally came to a substantial lead boys won 6 to 4. "Alright us guys are going to get drinks from the surf club" I said, I watched as Cooper looked at Bella "what you usually have" he asked, she smiled and nodded as we walked up the hill "you and Bella seem to be getting on pretty well" I said looking over to him "yeah she's pretty cool" he said "hey man, don't worry we think that you are pretty good for her, you make her happy" Brax said slapping Cooper's back "yeah I agree" I said "me too" Casey added as we headed into the surf club.

CHARLIE POV

I was sipping on my smoothie while everyone else played down on the sand and in the water. I watched as Bella ran up behind Cooper and jumped on his back, he instantly grabbed her legs to stop her from falling and ran into the water. They resurfaced a few minutes later as Bella swam to him, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her nose, I saw her laugh and flick water at him as they started a water war with everyone in the water. I watched my husband as he flicked Darcy with water and sent a wave of it Heath's way. I watched as they all enjoyed themselves and I sat here on the sand with a protective guard around my daughter. Mckenzie was 4 months old now and she had just learnt to sit up, I knew it was silly being so overprotective but I just couldn't help it, I felt like I was the only one who could properly protect her and no-one else was good enough. I know I am hurting Brax by not letting him hold his daughter but I just can't risk anything happening to her ever again.

I watched as Brax made his way up the sand, as he got closer Mckenzie stretched her hands out towards him, I kept a firm grasp on her even and Brax lent down to pick her up "Charlie let her go" Brax spoke firmly "where are you taking her?" I asked "down to the water" he replied trying to lift her up but my grasp on her restricted him "no I don't want her in the water" I said shaking my head "well I don't really care Charlie, she's my daughter and I get a say too and right now I am saying she is coming down to the water with me and is going to play with her aunts and uncles and cousins and her sister. You can come too but she is going, end of story" Brax said as he gently but firmly removed Mckenzie from my grip and carried her towards the water again. It was the second time today that he had disobeyed me and I was getting a little tired of it. I stood up and stomped down to the water.

"You need to stop disobeying me!" I snapped when I got close enough, everyone turned to look at me "excuse me!" Brax replied "you keep taking Mckenzie away from me even though I have told you no!" I snapped "Charlie she is my daughter too" Brax replied keeping his cool "yeah well I'm her mother and my say over rules so give her back to me" I yelled walking forwards "no Charlie you are being pathetic, you are restricting out child's growth just to satisfy your own pathetic needs" Brax replied angrily "I beg your pardon!" I cried outraged "Mckenzie is doing fine with me, I am the only one who can protect her!" I yelled "no you're not Charlie, no-one can protect anyone from EVERYTHING" Brax emphasised "Mckenzie isn't getting to interact with other people or see other scenery to help develop her sight, she sees you every second of every day and that isn't helping her, she needs to get out and see other people and different colours and patterns and feel the sand and the water and the fresh air. You need to stop mollycoddling her!" Brax yelled "give me back my daughter now!" I uttered "Charlie she is our daughter and I have every right to hold her, you are making a fool of yourself" Brax replied "no I am not, it is all her fault I don't trust any of you!" I screamed pointing to Bella. I saw her face drop and I felt a pang of guilt but the rage was sending me out of control and it over powered. "do you know what you have done to this family! You nearly killed my baby girl!" I screamed "CHARLIE BACK OFF" I heard Heath warn "how can you look at her, she has ruined everything!" I yelled back as Bella made her way out of the water, Cooper following close behind "MUM STOP IT, your being pathetic and rude, Bella saved Mckenzie's life, she would be dead if it weren't for her so get over yourself and stop acting like a fool!" Ruby yelled before heading out of the water after Bella, Casey, Heath and Bianca all followed shaking their heads "you happy now Charlie, you ruined a perfectly good day with your own stupidity" Brax said coldly as he handed me Mckenzie and headed up the bank. I turned back to find they were all leaving, leaving me here alone with Mckenzie, just like I had wanted. But was it really what I wanted?

How was that, I have started to delve into Charlie's issues, now I know she seemed harsh and rude but it's all in the plan, I am planning to have this storyline along with Bella's trauma come together soon so keep reading and please don't worry I don't plan to break up Charlie and Brax but I do need to cause some tension and arguments between them to show what Charlie's issues are doing to everyone. I have decided to add in Casey going to juvie but it will be different to how it was in the show so stay tuned! Remember to review and tell me what you thought! Dannielle xoxo