RICKY'S POV:
I rolled over in bed that morning, reaching out for Brax, my hand hitting the cold mattress where he should've been laid. Opening my eyes, I saw, as I'd guessed, he wasn't there. Turning over again as the door to our bedroom opened, he walked in, phone in hand…
"What's up?" I questioned
"Mum's asked to see me, Heath and Casey" he informed me
"Did she say what about?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at him as he moved to sit on the end of our bed
"Something about an apology" he replied "that's all she'd say on the phone"
I sighed and crawled from beneath the covers and over to Brax, wrapping my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder… "When does she want to see you?"
"This morning, before Casey goes to school" he informed me
"Better get him sorted then, hadn't I?" I suggested
He nodded his head, signalling yes… "I'm gonna get in the shower. Do you mind giving Heath a knock too please?"
"Course" I replied as he climbed off of the bed and I did the same, wrapping my dressing gown around my body, making my way to Casey's bedroom
BRAX'S POV:
Half-an-hour later, myself, Heath and Casey were all ready to go and meet Mum at the diner. Saying our goodbyes to Ricky, we left the house, making our way down the driveway to my car…
"Did she say what she wanted to see us about?" Heath inquired
"Something about an apology, that's all she said" I informed him as I began to drive off down our street
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the diner, Heath letting Casey out of the car. Making our way into the diner we found Mum sat already, having acquired us a table…
"Thank you for coming, all of you" she sighed as we sat down opposite her
"What's this about, Mum?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at her
"It's about me apologising for being a rubbish Mum to you boys" she admitted
"I thought I said to forget about it because there's nothing that can be done about it?" I inquired
"I decided to ignore that and apologise anyway" she replied "I really am sorry, especially to you. You had to grow up faster than you wanted to, faster than you needed to, and became a Dad to your brothers. That should never have happened"
RICKY'S POV:
"Did Brax say what Cheryl wanted to see them about?" Bianca asked as we sat at the kitchen table a little while later eating breakfast
"Just something about an apology" I replied "I just hope they're all okay"
"They will be" she assured me, smiling at me warmly "so what do you have planned today?"
"I'm going to wash baby boy Braxton's things" I informed her "and get them out on the line and all nice and clean ready for his arrival"
"I can't believe you've only got a month left" she admitted
"Neither can I, but I will be relieved to get this weight off of me" I sighed "it's crazy!"
BRAX'S POV:
"From now on, I'm going to be a better Mum to you boys" Mum informed us "I'm going to be there for whatever you need"
"We appreciate that, don't we, Heath?" I inquired, nudging my brother in his side
"Yeah, we do" he replied "just so long as you stick to it…"
"I will" she assured us "no downward spirals this time. This is me now. Sober, clean and on the mend"
I smiled at her warmly… "Thank you"
RICKY'S POV:
I'd just finished hanging the first lot of baby clothes out on the line and had made my way back into the house when Brax walked inside… "Hey"
"Hey" he mirrored "that was, I don't know…"
"What happened?" I questioned
"She apologised for everything she put us through as kids" he informed me "it was so surreal; like she was a totally different person"
"Do you think she's changed?" I inquired
"I want to give her the benefit of the doubt" he admitted "and give her a chance to prove herself, so yeah, for now, I believe she has"
I smiled at him warmly and set the wash basket down, moving to put the second lot of baby clothes into the washing machine, feeling the floor beneath me damp, the liquid hitting my bare feet…
"Brax…" I whispered
"It's okay" he replied "I'm gonna get the bag and we'll get you to the hospital"
"But we've not got anything for him" I whimpered "no clothes, nothing. They're all being washed"
"I'll sort it when the time comes" he informed me "but right now we need to get you to the hospital. Come on, take my hand"
Turning to face him, he smiled at me reassuringly and I took his outstretched hand, letting him lead me out of the house and to the car…
"Brax…" I whimpered as he helped me into the car
"Hey, shush" he begged "everything's gonna be fine"
"Is it?" I questioned "I'm scared"
"No need to be" he replied "I'm right here and I'm gonna be by your side every step of the way, okay?"
I nodded my head, signalling yes, smiling weakly as he pressed his lips against mine softly… "We can do this"
"We can do this" he mirrored, resting his forehead against mine momentarily before standing up and shutting my car door, making his way round to the driver's side
So Ricky's in labour, and a month early. Is baby boy Braxton going to be okay?