AUTHORS NOTE:

This is a bit of a light hearted chapter to compensate the last hard core chapter. However the next storyline in the next chapter will involve Danny's violent turn again and the result leads to one of the brothers developing some misguided thoughts.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 40: Big surprise

The following morning Cheryl and Danny were hung-over and stayed in bed late, leaving the three boys to have breakfast alone. Even with only one arm free Heath scoffed his breakfast, occasionally groaning.

"Your arm hurting you mate?" Brax asked. Heath nodded.

"Here, take these." Brax handed Heath some of his pain relief tablets.

Brax noticed Casey just pushing the food around on his plate. He had been very quiet ever since yesterday and he wondered whether more had happened with Danny than Casey had let on.

"Case, you okay?" Casey nodded. "Are you sure? You seem a bit quite since yesterday."

Brax asked in a gentle tone as he turned to butter his toast. Casey nodded again and pushed at his food. Heath gave him a gentle poke.

"Hey squirt cheer up." Brax squinted his eyes at his brother and knew something was bothering him.

Casey quickly glanced at his brothers. "Brax?" He whispered. "Am I a mistake?"

Both Brax and Heath looked shocked at their baby brother's comment. "What? Case what are you talking about, course you're not." Brax replied.

"Why do you think that squirt?" Heath asked.

"Daddy said yesterday, that I was only wanted so they could gets money and that I was an accident that shouldn't have happened."

Brax did recall his parents yelling when Cheryl was pregnant with Casey, about something being an accident but he never realized they were talking about Casey. Brax couldn't believe Danny could even say such a thing to his five year old son. Casey then realized what he had said and covered his mouth presenting a fearful expression on his face.

"No, no no!" Casey shrieked.

Brax snapped out of his thought and ran to Casey's side and placed his arm around his shoulder. "Case what's wrong?"

"I'm never gonna see anyone again. I wasn't meant to tell and now Daddy will leave me out at that place." Casey said in a panic.

Brax squeezed his shoulder. "Hey, that's not gonna happen. You're safe with Heath and me...Casey I want you to understand something. What Dad told you, it doesn't matter okay? You were not born just so they could get money. What matters is that Heath and I love you and you're our family, no matter what."

"But…" "Ah, ah. I don't want you dwelling on this okay."

Casey looked up into Brax's eyes and also saw Heath give him a smile and he nodded. "Good boy, now finish your breakfast."

"Don't listen to Dad Case. He's just trying to hurt you." Heath said as Brax stood up to clear his plate.

"He says I have to, otherwise he will hurt me. I don't want him to hurt me like he hurt Heath."

"Heath and I will make sure that never happens okay." Brax reassured.

"I will gladly take another broken arm to protect you Case." Brax raised his eyebrows at Heath.

"That's not gonna happen. From now on Dad will have to go through me to get to you two." Heath and Casey smiled feeling safe with Brax.

"Now come on, finish up you two, I wanna take you both down to the beach for a surprise."

"Yay!" Casey squealed. Heath smiled at Brax and the two boys finished their breakfast.

While the boys walked down to the beach Heath asked, "What's the surprise Brax?"

"You'll have to wait and find out." He teased. A matter of fact Brax had been saving up for this surprise ever since he knew it was coming to town and wanted to make sure his brothers got to experience something fun.

Finally reaching the beach Casey squealed as he saw the beach filled with large tents and colorful stalls. Heath smiled up at his big brother.

"Yup that's right, I've bought you guys to the carnival." Casey grabbed Brax's hand and pulled him towards the sand.

"Hold on." Brax laughed as he followed his brother.

The three boys spent the day watching performers and playing games. It had been awhile since Brax saw Heath and Casey have so much fun, despite the incidences of yesterday. Just as it was time for the boys to head home Heath stopped to look at a stall that had the latest video game up for grabs to whoever could win against the game.

Heath knew he couldn't have a go with his injured arm and saddened, all of Heath's friends had already got this game, but because they were so poor they could not get any news games. Brax noticed Heath stop and instantly realized what he was looking at.

Brax tapped his shoulder "Come on" and raced over to the stall. "I'd like a turn on this game please."

The carnie explained the rules and handed Brax the balls to toss. Heath and Casey watched their brother in awe as he threw the balls at the stand to knock over the target. Brax managed to knock over every target and scored the highest points on the game.

"Well done lad, you're the first person who's played this game here to get a perfect score. What prize can I interest you in?" Brax pointed to the video game. "Ah. A great choice."

"Thanks." Brax handed the game to Heath. "Here you go mate."

"Thanks." Heath grinned in surprise.

"You been through the wars mate?" The carnie asked Heath, only to receive a shrug. Casey pulled on Brax's arm.

"Me! Me! I want to win something! Please Brax." Brax laughed at Casey's persistence.

"Alright. Another turn please." Brax asked. The carnie handed him another set of balls and again he got a perfect score.

"And what would you like little man?" The carnie asked. Casey pointed to a big fire truck.

"I want that!" Casey was handed the truck. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." The carnie replied as Casey gave a big smile. "Thanks." Brax told the carnie.

"You still have some points, is there something you might like perhaps?" Brax scanned the shelf.

"I'll take that please." Brax pointed to a package containing 3 of the latest copies of a popular surfing magazine which Brax could never afford.

"Ah a surfing fan I see. From what I've seen here today, I bet you're a champion in the making."

"No. I barely get the chance to go out there."

"He's is an amazing surfer!" Heath shouted.

"The best." Casey added with a smile. "Sounds like your fans think you're pretty good. "

"Yeah I guess." Brax turned to leave, "wait you still have enough for one smaller prize." Brax looked back.

"You can choose from these candies, a bag of mixed chocolate bars, these molding toys, or this bag of tricks."

Brax didn't even have to consider the choices to know what was best for him and his brothers. "I'll take the bag of chocolate please."

It was a very rare occasion that the boys received such a nice treat. The carnie handed over the prize and looking at the happy faces of the younger boys, he handed Brax two candy bars.

Brax looked at the carnie confused, "here give them something a little extra." He winked. Brax stood stunned.

"I can't…can't take these." The carnie pushed them into Brax's hands.

"Consider it a congratulations gift. It's not often I see people get a perfect score on my game. Take it." Brax took the bars from the carnie, "thanks."

"My pleasure, enjoy your day now."

Heath and Casey had walked away and were discussing their prizes when Brax approached them. "Ready to go home?"

"What took you so long?" Heath asked.

"That guy wanted to give me these." Brax showed his brothers the candy bars.

"Can we have them please Brax?" Casey begged. "Not now Case, we have to get home for dinner." Casey moaned.

"Maybe later okay."

As Heath and Casey walked in front of Brax, Heath whispered, "Hey Case, maybe if you're nice to me I'll let you have one of those chocolate bars anytime you want."

Casey turned to Brax "Why can't I have the chocolate in my room?" "What?"

"Heath says he's gonna have the chocolate in his room."

"Heath don't tease Casey. The chocolate will be staying in my room, so Mum and Dad don't find out, and no-one is to take any without my permission." Heath shrugged. "Worth a try."

"Come on, let's get home." Brax encouraged them.

Danny and Cheryl were none the wiser that Brax had taken the boys to the beach carnival and had made dinner as normal. After dinner Casey went to Heath's bedroom. The younger boys were discussing making something nice to say thank you to their brother.

Casey kept busy coloring in a picture which Heath helped him draw with his free arm. It was a picture of the fun they had at the carnival. Heath wrapped up a small surf board toy his friend had given him and some sea shells Casey had picked out at the beach once before.

"Do you think Brax will like all this Heath?" "I'm sure he will Case."

Once the boys finished, Heath carried the present and Casey held the picture and they walked down to their brother's room. Casey was about to enter when Heath held him back.

"Knock first." Casey gently knocked on the door. Brax knew it would be one of his brothers at the door as Danny and Cheryl would just burst in. "Come in."

Heath opened the door and Brax put down his surfing magazine he was reading. "What's up guys?"

Heath gave Casey a shove to go ahead. Casey ran up to Brax and gave him the picture and jumped next to him on his bed.

"This is for you!" Casey gave a big smile. "Here" Heath handed the present over.

"What's all this?" "Casey and I wanted to say thanks for taking us out today."

"Look Brax I colored that in. That's us at the carnival and that's you winning all the prizes!"

Casey explained excited as he sat hovering over his brother. Brax then opened his present and knew his brothers gave from their heart when he saw the sea shells and surf board, Brax was touched.

"You guys didn't have to do any of this. I wanted to take you out."

"But we love you. Don't we Heath?" Casey said as he leaned on Brax.

"Heath?" Brax teased knowing his younger brother wasn't huge on showing his feelings.

"Say it Heath." Casey pushed. Brax laughed as Heath got awkward.

"Yeah, I love you too" He whispered. Brax wrapped his right arm around Casey and pulled him close.

"Come here," he nodded for Heath to come over too, holding his left arm out. Heath shuffled onto the bed and sat on Brax's left side and was pulled into his brother's embrace.

"I love you both so much." Brax gave them both a squeeze as the two snuggled in further. After a short while Brax pulled away.

"Who wants one of the chocolate bars?" "Me!" Casey squealed followed by Heath adding, "yeah."

Brax got off his bed and pulled out the packet of chocolate bars and handed out one for Heath, one for Casey and took one for himself.

"Thanks Brax" They said in unison and quickly tore open the chocolate to eat it. By the time the boys finished their chocolate bar, Brax saw that the time read 8:45pm.

"Alright you two, it's well after your bed time."

"But I'm not tired." Casey moaned as he gave a yawn, Heath laughed. "Sure you're not."

"Come on, both of you go and brush your teeth and get to bed."

"Can you tuck me in?" Casey asked Brax. "Sure Case. I'll be there in a minute."

Heath and Casey rushed out of the room. Brax tidied up the wrappers from his bed and looked at the picture and gifts his brothers gave him, it really made him feel like everything was okay in his life for once, like nothing else mattered. Brax placed his gifts up on his bed head and rested the picture against his cupboard and headed down to Casey's room.

Casey waited in bed, yawning constantly and smiled at Brax as he walked in. "Okay mate." Casey lay down as Brax covered him over. "Night Case."

"Do you like what we gave you?" "I love it." Brax smiled and stroked Casey's hair.

Brax then walked out of the room and knocked on Heath's door and entered. "Night mate." As Brax went to shut the door Heath spoke, "thanks for everything Brax and I don't just mean today."

"You're welcome mate, you and Case are my life." Brax smiled and walked back to his room.