The next morning Charlie yawned and rolled over when her phone began to ring "hello?" she said tiredly.

"Hey," came Brax's voice "I'll take that yawn as you're not at Angelo's yet?" he asked.

"No," she yawned "what time is it?"

Brax chuckled "after twelve."

"Seriously?" she asked and jumped out of the bed.

"Afraid so," he chuckled "listen if you wanna leave today you can just call me whenever."

"No, no," she said as she hurried around looking for clothes "when I left you last night my daughter and two of the girls were waiting at home for me…we were up half the night."

"Right," Brax said slowly no clue she had a daughter "so when do you wanna do this?"

"I'll be there in a half an hour so come over whenever," she said and hung up. Throwing her clothes on she ran down the stairs "Rubes why did you let me sleep so late?" she called as she ran around gathering up her things.

"Sorry mum I thought you could do with the lie in," Ruby replied and walked into the kitchen.

Charlie took in her appearance she looked like she hadn't slept either, she had dark circles under her eyes and her face was slightly shrunken and pale "are you okay sweetie?"

"Yeah," she yawned "just didn't sleep very well last night…I better get back to school, call me if you need anything," she said and walked out the door.

"You can take the rest of the day off if you want!" Charlie called after her.

"I'm fine mum thanks anyway!" she called back before she rounded the corner.

Charlie sighed and shook her head she could kill Angelo and Natalie for what they were putting them through, grabbing her bag she picked up her keys and had a quick look around before she hurried out the door.

…

When she arrived she walked behind the bar "sorry Liam," she yawned "Ruby let me sleep in," she said and grabbed an apron.

"Looks like you could do with more," he replied "it's okay Charlie we were fine here," he looked at her for a moment "uh Angelo called in looking for you," he said cautiously.

She closed her eyes at the mention of his name she'd thought about him all night, she swore to herself today was a fresh start-one night was all she allowed herself to feel sorry for herself and cry "Oh?" she said trying to hold her poker face.

"Yeah," Liam nodded "he said he needed to give you something that he'd be back later….Noah saw him too," he added.

Charlie chuckled and turned back to him, Noah was Hayley's husband and was very protective of all the girls "what did he do?"

"Hey may have broken the nose you already injured- but by the looks of him someone got to him before Noah," Liam chuckled "yes mate?" he said to a guy that had arrived at the bar and walked over to him.

"I'll be inside call me if you need me," Charlie said and grabbed the books "if a guy called Brax turns up send him into me," she said and walked out back. Sitting down at her desk she sighed and opened the books she hated doing this she'd always left it to Angelo, but the last few weeks they had been coming up short she wanted to see where the problem was herself.

After a half an hour she'd added the total shortage for the month- she was not happy, getting old copies of rosters from her files she picked up her highlighter and walked to the middle of the floor. Dumping everything she went back to the files cabinet and took out the books from the start of the year walking back to the stuff on the floor she sat down and picked up the first roster and went back to that date in the books. After matching who was on and who cashed up she moved onto the next roster and continued on doing the same thing- two names kept popping up.

…..

Brax arrived and walked up to the bar "alright mate," he said to Liam "I was supposed to call but is Charlie here yet?"

"Are you Brax?" he asked.

"Yeah that's me," he replied.

"Alright, she's expecting you she's in the office," Liam said.

"Thanks," Brax said and went to walk off, stopping he turned back to Liam "how does she seem to you?"

"How about none of your business," Liam replied he didn't know this guy or what he knew about what was going on, he wasn't telling him anything.

Brax chuckled "loyal I like that…she already told me what happened I just wanted to know how she was."

"Ask her yourself-not my place," Liam replied.

"Okay," Brax said and walked off. Getting to the office he knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" she called back.

Brax opened the door and went inside looking at the desk he frowned when it was empty, looking to the floo her chuckled and closed the door "do I dare ask what you're doing?"

Charlie looked up at him she now lay on her stomach with sheets and books scattered all around her and the highlighter in her mouth. She dropped the highlighter and smiled "hey, just looking for something," she said and sat up on her knees.

"Okay," Brax said and sat on the floor across from her "can I help… you know since I own a bit of this place."

"Yeah actually you can," she said and looked around for something, finding it she picked up one of the books and handed it to him "go back to the…" she looked down at another book and scanned the page "sixteenth, and see if these two were on and who cashed up the till," she said and handed him an old roster.

"What are we looking for here?" Brax asked as he did what she asked.

"Missing money," Charlie said and moved onto the next set of books.

Brax looked and frowned "is it much?"

Charlie sighed and looked up at him "the last few weeks I've been down hundreds every week, I left this all to Angelo I went by what he told me and never looked myself…didn't have time to look, now I find it's way way more than he told me."

"So you think someone is taking money from the till?"

"Yeah, I have two names that keep popping up they've been on every time it's been short and I don't wanna believe either," she sighed and threw down her papers.

Brax looked down at the names she'd highlighted "do you really think Angelo would steal from you?"

Charlie scoffed "if he did he's a bigger idiot than I thought, he owned the place with me…he'd be stealing from himself."

Brax chuckled "you never know what people are thinking he might have been in debt he didn't want you to know about."

"I would have known, rule number two Brax, no money leaves here without me knowing why and what for," she said and stood up when a call came in from the bar "Sam?" she said she shook her head "alright, send him in," she said and put the phone down. "You might wanna wait outside this could get a little messy," she said and sat at her desk.

Brax stood up and grabbed the book he had been looking through he wasn't going to ask he knew who it was "I'll be out at the bar," he said and opened the door just as Angelo walked in.

"Brax," he greeted and walked by him.

Brax looked over at her she couldn't even look at Angelo she sat looking down at what she had in front of her "do you need me to hang around?" he asked as Angelo sat on the desk beside her.

Charlie looked over at him and smiled "thanks but I'll be okay…I'll be out in a minute."

Brax looked at Angelo for a moment "alright," he said and closed the door behind him.

After a few minutes of awkward silence Angelo stood up and pulled his papers out of the envelope "signed like you asked," he said and placed them in front of her.

She looked at his signature "right, that's all you need to say," she said and stood up.

Angelo sighed "I'm sorry Charlie," he said and walked over to her "I didn't want things to turn out this way."

"You think I did!" she hissed and pulled the door open "go," she said jutting her chin out the door "you're not welcome in here anymore."

Angelo hung his head and walked over to her "we're leaving tomorrow afternoon so I guess this is goodbye."

"Like I care," she said and walked out the door gripping the papers.

Angelo followed her as she made her way towards Brax "you two seem to have hit it off."

Charlie rolled her eyes and spun to face him "yeah he's a great bloke you did something right, you never know maybe he'll replace you at home too!" she hissed that was a total lie she didn't know anything about him she'd only had a chat with him.

Angelo nodded "I see there's no point trying to end on some sort of good note…I saw Ruby before I came here-to say goodbye," he said.

"You what!" Charlie yelled "you went near my daughter?" she asked taking a step closer to him "after what you did you still had the nerve to go near her?"

"Uh-oh," Liam said and ran from behind the bar.

"What is wrong with you? What part of stay away didn't you get?" she raised her hand and slapped him hard "get the fuck out keep on going and do not so much as look at my daughter again!" she yelled and curled her hand into a fist.

"No Charlie," Liam said and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her away from him.

She fought him off like a crazy person "and tell that so called sister of mine I will do damage if she goes near her either and tell her not to bother going to see anyone just disappear!"

Angelo backed away he knew how Charlie's temper could get "we're only here for another day…call of the dogs please?" he asked pointing to his battered face.

Charlie laughed "they didn't do a very good job did they? I am warning you Angelo, stay the fuck away from Ruby or anyone else in my family, next time there won't be a warning it'll be my gun!" she hissed and stormed into her office.

"Beat it," Liam said and went back behind the bar without a second glance.

"Come on mate we've been mates years now surely you're not gonna turn your back on me too?" Angelo asked.

"Correction I am Charlie's mate-not yours I only put up with you for her, so yes Angelo like everyone else I have already turned my back on you, beat it or I beat you," he said and leaned on the bar "you never deserved her in the first place- neither of them, she's way too good for you we've always said it."

Angelo rolled his eyes and turned to Brax "just so you know what you're letting yourself in for she's a lunatic that one- and he," he said pointing to Liam "is her right hand man watch your back when they're about-them and the morons she calls her brothers and those skanks that hang around after her, they'll take you down without a second thought-don't trust any of them."

"Oi that is my girlfriend and mates you're talking about!" Liam hissed.

Brax stood up "you don't get to speak about her like that," he said and took a step closer to him "you cheated on her with her sister-her own sister, you can't talk about loyalty or anything like it and I'll take my chances with her so called right hand man," he looked over at Liam "I quite like him already."

Angelo shook his head "your funeral mate," he said and walked off.

Brax looked over at Liam "how long do you reckon she needs to cool off?" he asked.

"I'd give her about an hour…don't be surprised if one of her brothers turn up," Liam replied and walked out to the kitchen.

…

In her office Charlie sat with a tumbler glass of bourbon in front her just staring at it, she looked up when the door opened and Brax stuck his head in.

"We good?" he asked Charlie nodded; he walked in and shut the door "you know it helps if you actually drink it," he said and sat on the edge of the desk.

Charlie smiled weakly "you have it," she said and slid the glass to him and stood up "I can't drink it anyway," she muttered and walked around the desk.

"Can't handle the hard stuff?" Brax chuckled and turned to face her, it was then he saw where her hand lay "you're pregnant?" he asked wide eyed.

"Yeah," she sighed and sat on the floor.

"I take it he doesn't know?"

"No," she replied.

"And you're not gonna tell him?"

Charlie scoffed "nope…can we talk about something else?"

"Does anyone know you're pregnant?" he asked sitting on the floor beside her.

Charlie looked up at him "let's see… me, my doctor, my daughter, my best mate, one of my brothers oh and now you…. next question please?" she asked sarcastically.

"Alright I won't mention it again…did you ask him about the missing money?"

Charlie shook her head "not until I've added it all up I need exact figures and dates before I start."

"What are we at so far?" Brax asked and looked down to where she'd scribbled a load of numbers.

"Three grand so far," she replied "and that's only up until February I still have another month to go through."

Brax shook his head "that would have been at least five hundred a week how did he not notice that?"

Charlie stood up and walked to the phone "unless he was taking it and played dumb, hey Sam can you send Liam in here please," she asked and put it down "I know it wasn't Liam but I still need to ask, his name keeps popping up he might know something, what is said in here stays in here got it?"

Brax nodded "got it, I won't get in your way."

"Liam is also a very good mate of mine so I'll get it out now- I know he didn't take any money but he has to be asked, he had a drug problem a few years back I'll be mentioning that if I feel I need to so just let me handle this…you're here to observe."

Liam opened the door and walked in "you looking for me?" he asked.

"Yeah close the door and sit down please," Charlie replied and walked over to her desk.

"I don't like when you go boss mode like this it doesn't suit you," he chuckled and sat down across from her.

"You're not gonna like what I have to say either," she said and looked up at him, he was her long- time friend this was so hard for her. She blew out a breath "before I go any further Liam this is Brax he's bought Angelo's share, so he'll be your new boss he's gonna sit in on this okay?"

"Okay," Liam nodded "but what is this exactly?" he asked.

Charlie leaned forward "you know I trust you with my life?" Liam nodded "and I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm looking for answers here."

Liam raised an eyebrow "what's going on Charlie? I'm starting to get a bit worried now."

Charlie looked at him and bit her lip "my books are way way down like thousands down…have you ever for any reason taken money from the till or safe without me knowing about it?"

Liam nodded "uh yeah I borrowed a grand last October to get Bianca an engagement ring…Angelo cleared it, he said we wouldn't tell you because you'd let it slip to her, he said he'd tell you after I proposed…I paid it back before Christmas."

Charlie sat back in her chair "and did you see him put it back in the safe?"

"I don't know what's going on here Charlie but I did pay it back I got him to write me a receipt I have it at home," Liam said panicked.

Charlie held up her hand "I'm not accusing you Liam," she said and sat forward again sliding the sheets to him she sat back "you and Angelo both pop up every time money is down…did you ever see him take money?"

Liam nodded "he took two hundred bucks for something on his car- he said you knew when I asked him about it."

Charlie chewed the inside of her mouth and stood up-she did not know about that "any other times he took something and said I knew?" she asked walking around the desk she couldn't believe he would steal from his own business…or maybe he was spending it on Natalie.

Liam nodded "three times I can remember, twice Sam saw him and I think Mol said she asked him what he was doing once… we're all aware of your money rule Charlie and we respect it."

"What did he say it was for?" Charlie asked.

"A weekend away for you he took five hundred I think… that was in November I remember it because you didn't actually go anywhere… but he did," he sighed. "Second time was for Ruby's eighteenth birthday- he said he was buying her some necklace from tiffany's…think he took five that time too. The third time he said he'd got a new supplier that needed a deposit and he had to pay two months up front- think that was nine."

"And did Sam and Mol tell you what he said to them?" Brax asked he had been adding it all up as he went.

"He told Sam he was the owner and told him to mind his own business-but Sam said he had a wad of cash, the next time was another weekend away for you-that was five too, and I don't know what he said to Mol."

"Thanks Liam you can go back to the bar now," she smiled.

"So were good I'm not in the frame for this?" he asked as he stood up had he known Charlie had no idea about it he would have told her right away-Angelo had some explaining to do.

"You never were Liam like I said I trust you," she smiled and sat back down.

As soon as the door was closed Brax placed the pad he had down in front of her "almost four grand I bet what's still not accounted for is part of this-maybe more."

Charlie nodded and stood up "I am going to kill him…how much did he sell for?" she asked.

"Fifty grand," Brax replied.

Charlie nodded "have you paid him yet?" she asked looking over at him.

"I put twenty-five in his bank this morning he'll get the rest when this place is legally mine."

"Right," Charlie nodded and looked at the clock "when that time comes only give him another twenty, he owes me five- if he has a problem with that tell him to come see me…I gotta go I'm sorry I forgot about somewhere I need to be, you can hang out here and look around if you want," she said.

Brax nodded "yeah I think I might… will you be back?" he asked.

"Yeah after six see ya!" she called and hurried out the door.

Arriving at the hospital Charlie smiled as she passed a few of the nurses who were used to her being here, getting to the room she walked in "hey daddy," she smiled and sat on the bed "hey Keith," she said when a guy walked in.

"Charlie hey," he said and walked to her dad with medication "now Ross take these for Charlie," he said and held the plastic cup out.

"He being trouble?" she asked.

Keith chuckled "his usual charming self, nothing we couldn't handle."

"Daddy," she scowled "what have I told you about being nice to people?"

Ross looked at her like he'd only noticed she was there "Eloise, about time, when are we going home?" he asked.

Charlie leaned in closer "no daddy it's me, Charlie," she said "mum's not here remember?" she went through this every time she got here Alzheimer's had hit him bad.

"Where the hell is she then?" he shouted.

She was used to the mood swings now too-but not always prepared for them, sighing she stood up off the bed "she died a few years ago remember- we were all there?"

"Don't you say that about your mother!" he hissed and swung at her causing her to jump away from him- but not before his fist caught the side of her eye.

Keith dived on him "Charlie wait outside," he said as he held him down and called for another nurse to help him.

She waited outside while they calmed him down the other nurse had thrown her an ice pack as he went in, she looked up when someone stopped in front of her "hey," she smiled weakly.

"He ask after mum again?" Peter asked and sat beside her.

"Yeah," she sighed and sat back "he's getting worse Pete he called me mum this time, freaked when I said she wasn't here anymore."

Peter pulled her hand down from her face "that'll bruise," he said and tiled her chin so he could get a better look.

"I know he doesn't mean it…I just wish we could help him," she said and stood up "he told Jack to get him some file he worked on twenty years ago saying he was still on it- he called me and asked me to check the case number."

Peter sighed it was something none of them wanted to admit it but he was fading fast "I know, he called security the other day saying I was impersonating his son, lucky it was Phil or I'd have been thrown out."

Charlie sighed and sat down again "this is hitting him fast there's been a big change since last week."

Before Peter could reply both guys walked out "you guys can go back in now," Keith said.

"Thanks guys," Charlie said and walked in "hey daddy," she said like she'd just arrived.

Ross smiled "hey princess did you put the fresh flowers out for mum like I asked?"

"Yeah I was there yesterday morning they're beautiful as always," she smiled and sat down.

"Hey dad," Peter said and sat on the other side.

Ross smiled at him "hello son, you looking after you brother and sisters?" he asked.

"You know it," he smiled "so how are you today?" he asked.

"And my grandbabies?" Ross asked.

"Yes watching them like a hawk," Peter replied.

"Hey," they all looked to the door as Jack walked in.

"Son," Ross smiled "you're not expected until later, sit down, have you eaten-Charlotte go get him something."

Jack chuckled "figured I'd come for a longer visit since Maddy's in school, I'm fine dad I had lunch," he said and sat down.

Ross nodded "so princess getting closer to the big do are you nervous?" he asked turning to Charlie.

Charlie held her smile "no dad everything's going great I'm fine I'm happy," she felt bad lying to him but she had to he was very unpredictable these days.

"And Angelo?" Ross asked.

"Yeah," she nodded "he's good he's looking forward to it."

"Good and Natalie is she pulling her weight?"

"Yeah," Peter answered "she's doing well," he said glancing at Charlie "she sends her love."

Keith walked back in "sorry guys it's lunch time, going to the hall today Ross?" he asked.

"Is Dave down there?" Ross asked.

Keith chuckled "his partner in crime…yes he's waiting for you."

"Scram you lot time to eat," he chuckled "I'll see you tomorrow."

All three stood up and waved as he was wheeled away. Jack turned to Charlie "did dad do that?" he asked nodding to her eye.

"Yeah lashed out when I told him mum wasn't here," Charlie replied as they walked along the halls "are we going for lunch or heading home?" she asked.

"I've to get back to work, you two go," Peter replied.

"Sub?" Jack asked.

"Okay," she said and linked her arm into his "later Pete!" she called as they split up.

…..

Later she arrived back at Angelo's and went inside walking up to the bar she smiled at Liam "you still here?"

"Yeah," he said and walked around the bar "I was waiting for you to get back what happened to you eye?" he asked.

"Dad," she answered "I'm back now you can get off…is Brax still here?"

"Yeah he's helping out behind the bar he's down the store room, how was Ross today?"

Charlie sighed "okay- then not okay, you know how it goes."

"Is he still asking for your mum?"

"Yeah he went completely nuts when I said she'd died, I didn't jump out of the way quick enough," she replied and looked up when Brax slammed a box down.

"What happened to you?" he asked.

"Oh tripped," she smiled and stood up only her close mates knew the situation with her dad "throw us my apron please?" she asked nodding to it behind him.

"I'll see ya later Charlie I'm gonna head," Liam said and grabbed his jacket.

"Thanks for hanging back I'll see ya later," she said as she got ready to start work.

As they got busier Charlie went behind the bar and giggled at Brax he looked lost "what the hell is a cosmo?" He asked.

Charlie giggled again and flipped her cocktail book open "the red one in a martini glass, you'll be making a lot of these on the weekends. I'll do one and you can watch me," she said and bumped him out of her way with her hip, she giggled when he flicked water at her unaware that Angelo stood behind her.

After she mixed it up she poured it out "think you can manage the next one?" she asked.

"Way ahead of you," he chuckled and poured out the second one.

"Hey you were supposed to be watching," she giggled.

"I can read you know," he said and winked at her while he walked to the girls who had ordered them, he stopped when he saw Angelo "uh Charlie," he said and glanced back at her.

Her smiled faded when she saw him "what?" she asked.

"Wanna talk to you…ran into Liam," he said sheepishly.

"Brax!" she called "come with me, James won't be long, Steve's on the floor if you need help!" she called and walked into her office.

As soon as the door closed she was off "you have a hell of a lot of explain to do you absolute bastard! Stealing from your own business-from me!" she yelled "how could you do that-how could you think I'd never find out?"

"I have no excuse- not one that you'll like anyway," he sighed and took out an envelope "six grand, all I took," he said and dropped it on the table.

"I don't want that," she said and flung it back at him "its guilt money go shove it. Here's the deal," she said and walked closer to him "Brax already gave you twenty-five thousand?" Angelo nodded "great," she smiled "that's all you're getting his other twenty five will be going into this place."

Brax stood silently by the door and raised an eyebrow she was good.

"You can't do that!" Angelo yelled.

"Watch me," she laughed.

"I need that money Charlie."

Charlie looked down at the envelope that now lay on the floor "there's six take it or leave it you're not getting a penny more and if you don't leave now I'll call the cops in a bout the missing money, they'll work it out just as quick as I did then you won't be going anywhere."

Angelo sighed he being a former cop too knew he would face charges and he would do time, they'd be looking into his bank accounts too he didn't want that "fine," he said and picked up the envelope "guess I deserve this."

"Oh you deserve a lot more but I have Ruby to think about I can't spend the rest of my life behind bars…this is the last time I wanna see you," she said and pulled the door open.

Angelo walked over to her and stopped, feeling a bit brave he wanted to leave with him having the upper hand for a change "you know your sister is very willing and better in the bedroom-does anything I want… compared to you just lying there… any wonder I strayed?" he sneered.

Charlie smiled "good for her maybe she could teach you a thing or two, trust me you could do with it… any wonder why I just lay there?" she said "you had no clue what you were doing," she shoved him out the door and closed it, turning around she opened her eyes to see Brax standing beside her "forgot you were here," she said and walked to her desk.

Brax chuckled "you're good-god you're so good," he said and sat down.

"Thank you," she giggled "and you get to keep your twenty-five grand," she sat back on the chair proud of herself.

"I will put it into this place," he said seriously.

"Nah keep it…you can buy me a coffee sometime," she said and stood up.

Brax chuckled "how about dinner sometime?"

Charlie shook her head "no can do, I need to be by myself I'm pregnant in case you forgot-no dates-no men."

"Not a date-a thank you," he said and pulled the door open "you saved me a lot of money, not taking no as an answer," he said and walked off.

Charlie bit her lip and watched him go, what the hell was wrong with her-her fiancé cheated on her yesterday and she's already drooling over another bloke-who just happens to have bought a share in this place, groaning again she followed him back to the bar.

A/n as I said in my other story I have started a facebook page under my pen name (JJFanfic) for any of you who would like to add it, it's really just to chat to those of you who are not on the fanifcit site itself...if you do add me make sure you tell me the name you review under if any if not just let tme know you read my stories hope to speak to you soon-you can leave idea's for new stories too if you like-or current :)