RICKY'S POV:

"Right then, little guy, shall we go and wake Brax up?" I suggested a little while later

"Ax, Ax, Ax" Casey proclaimed

"Careful" I called after Casey as he hurried inside, me making my way after him

"Ax, Ax, Ax" Casey shouted as Brax made his way out of his bedroom

"Alright, mate" Brax greeted him, picking him up as Casey reached him

"How did you sleep?" I asked as I poured him a cup of coffee

"Good, thanks" he replied, taking the mug from me "Mum's gone again, I take it?"

"Yeah, left about half-an-hour ago" I informed him "had a go at Heath before she went too"

"Where is he now?" he inquired

"I'm here" he announced as he made his way into the house "this one thought it'd be a good idea if I went and did the shopping for tonight's barbecue, didn't you, Ric?"

I nodded my head, signalling yes as Brax placed Casey down and he walked over to his toy-box in the corner…

"Heath, did you get anything to drink besides beer?" I questioned

"What? You like beer, I like beer, Brax likes beer" he replied

"Yeah, but I would like other options on what to drink besides that" I admitted

"We've got juice and other stuff, don't worry" Brax assured me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder

I smiled at him warmly… "I'm off to get in the pool"

BRAX'S POV:

Heath and I set up the barbecue whilst Ricky and Casey were in the pool, her pushing him around on a blow up alligator. Smiling warmly as I watched them, Heath broke me from my trance as he handed me a beer…

"What is going on between you and Ricky exactly?" he questioned

"What do you mean?" I asked

"You can't stop staring at her; you're acting more couply than you usually do with her, is there something happening?" he asked

"Nope" I replied, taking a sip of my beer

"But you want something to, right?" he inquired

"Adam would murder me if he found out I was dating his little sis" I sighed

"Who gives a stuff what Adam thinks? The guy's a tool" he replied

"I do. He's my mate, and you know me, I don't go behind my mate's backs" I informed him

"Why not try doing something for yourself for a change?" he suggested "if you wanna be with her, go and get her"

RICKY'S POV:

Casey and I made our way out of the pool as dinner was almost ready. Sitting him down at the table, I wrapped my towel around my body, making my way over to Brax…

"Anywhere nice?" I questioned

"What?" he asked

"In your daydream, were you anywhere nice?" I inquired

"Far away from here" he informed me "me, you, Heath and Casey, we were somewhere completely new"

"Sounds amazing" I admitted "but unlikely"

"Who says?" he inquired

"What?" I asked

"Once I'm done with school, I'm out of here" he informed me

"And what about me? What about your brothers?" I inquired

"They'll be coming with me" he replied "and as for you, that's your choice"

I licked my suddenly dry lips and ran my hands through my hair… "You don't half like to drop bombshells, do you?"

BRAX'S POV:

Ricky made her way inside and I watched her go, Heath making his way over to me…

"What happened?" he questioned

"I told her we were going once I was done with school" I admitted

"And she didn't take it well?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me

"Does it look like she did?" I inquired "keep an eye on Casey, I'm gonna go check on her"

Nodding his head in understanding, he took over the reins on the barbecue and I made my way inside, walking into my bedroom as Ricky pulled her t-shirt over her head…

"What?" she inquired

"Can we talk?" I asked

"What about?" she questioned

"What happened out there" I replied "I don't think you understood what I was saying"

"I understand perfectly clear" she informed me "in 3 months time you'll be leaving Mangrove River and me behind"

"I was saying that, but what you didn't give me chance to say was that when I do, I want you to come with me" he admitted

"What?" she asked

"I want you to come with me. I want you and me to be together, and that can't happen around here" I replied

"I don't get what you're trying to say, Brax" she admitted

I walked over to her and cupped her cheeks in my hands, pressing my lips against hers, relief flooding through me as she reciprocated… "I love you, that's what I'm trying to say"

"I love you too" she whispered, wrapping her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest