AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you Braxton54 and Bonnie Sveen Fan for the continual reviews and to all others reading and supporting our story; it's greatly appreciated.

Kyle wakes up the following morning and rubs his arms that were still a little tender from the Chinese burns. For once he is thankful it was Saturday and he could spend the day free from his bullies and hopefully Heath's torment.

After breakfast Kyle decides to spend the day cleaning his side of the bedroom as it was raining again outside, halting any plans to relax out in the Acapulco chairs and read.

Brax pops his head into the bedroom.

"You doing okay in here, Trooper?" he asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine thanks Brax."

"Well, just don't spend your whole Saturday cleaning, huh?" Brax smiles and leaves to go back to the living room to focus on bookwork and keep an eye on Casey.

Saturday night comes around quickly, and Heath is currently over at Brax's house talking to the eldest and waiting for Bianca to arrive for their night out at the movies and knowing Brax had told Casey he had to apologise to Bianca, Heath had taken this as a good opportunity.

Bianca walks up the path and knocks on the door to which Heath opens it and greets his girlfriend.

"Hey Babe."

Bianca gives Heath a greeting kiss and enters the house.

"Hi everyone," she greets.

Brax and Kyle who were busy working on dinner pop their faces out to greet Bianca.

Brax then turns to Casey who has yet to say a word or lift his head from his focus on his homework at the table to acknowledge Bianca's presence.

"Well, I guess we better get going if we don't want to miss the movie," Bianca states.

Brax clears his throat.

"Actually Bianca, if you have a quick minute, Casey has something he'd like to say to you."

Casey shifts uncomfortably in his seat but remains silent.

"Oi: Snoopy; say what you need to say!" Heath barks and walks up behind Casey and roughly plants his hand on Casey's head and turns him to face Bianca, who frowns at Heath's forcefulness.

"Heath be reasonable," Bianca scolds.

"He wasn't reasonable when he behaved horribly for you," Heath defends and remains standing behind Casey with his arms folded.

Casey blinks shamefully, feeling embarrassed.

"Casey what is it that you wish to say to me?" Bianca asks kindly.

"Casey," Brax prompts sternly.

"Bianca, I'm really sorry for the way I acted at school the other day and the way I spoke to you. It was disrespectful and wrong, and you didn't deserve to be treated that way, and I won't do it again," Casey mumbles, avoiding eye contact with Bianca.

"Pfft, you bet you won't baby bro, or you'll be getting it from me," Heath states firmly and gives Casey a whack over the head.

"Honestly Heath, don't be so hard on him, Casey apologised and on that, Casey I appreciate your apology. You're a bright kid and have good potential and I hate to think of you wasting it by behaving inappropriately or fighting and I look forward to seeing you back at school on Monday," Bianca comforts and approaches Heath to rest a hand on his chest to simmer down her disgruntled boyfriend.

"That's very nice of you to say that Bianca and I assure you, Casey will go back to school with a much better attitude," Brax informs.

Casey turns back away as his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"That's good to hear, now is there anything else, otherwise we better go," Bianca says.

"No, both of you have a good night," Brax replies.

"I hope you enjoy whatever movie you are going to see," Kyle pipes up.

"Thank you, Kyle. I hope so too. Anyway, goodbye everyone," Bianca farewells as she and Heath leave.

"Dinner is almost ready, so put your work away now Casey and get ready," Brax informs.

Casey packs away his books and Kyle quickly sets the table before Brax then serves up the dinner of creamy spinach, stuffed salmon in garlic butter, a new first for the boys.

"Are you okay?" Kyle quietly asks as he takes his seat next to Casey.

"I guess," Casey mumbles.

"You know I'm proud of you apologising to Bianca, Casey," Brax says.

"You said I had to or else," Casey replies.

"That's not my point. I meant you were sincere."

"This turned out really yum," Kyle says, changing the subject.

"I agree, it's not too bad," Brax smiles, "What do you think, Case?"

"It's tasty."

After the three finish their dinner, Brax orders Casey to clean the dishes then go to his room, while Brax and Kyle settle down to play a game of Mastermind.

The following night Casey is in the bedroom at the desk finishing up on his essay, while Kyle is in the living room playing his guitar and working on his music writing and Brax is carefully sorting through the week's finances of the restaurant.

Casey gathers up his finished essay, hoping it was enough to satisfy Brax's requests and walks out into the living room.

"Um Brax, can I please talk to you for a minute?" Casey asks, holding his essay firmly in his hands.

Brax turns around to face Casey who was still standing behind the couch.

"Sure Casey, come here," Brax instructs and pats the couch next to him.

Kyle briefly looks up from his spot on the armchair and temporarily ceases playing to focus on his songwriting and to give Brax and Casey a chance to talk.

Casey approaches Brax but doesn't sit down, only holding out the paper.

"I finished my essay."

Brax nods approvingly and takes the paper from Casey's hands.

Casey waits nervously, watching as Brax reads through his essay.

"That's very good Casey and did you learn something from this?" Brax asks.

Casey nods, "Not to be so willing to use my fists to solve problems and to try and control my temper and if a bullying incident happens at school or something I don't like I should tell a teacher and not deal with it myself," Casey mumbles.

Brax nods, "Good boy. Now before I forget, here is that note for Bianca to put in your bag and give to her tomorrow morning when you get to school," Brax says and hands Casey the signed letter.

"You just make sure she gets that, because I will be checking with her," Brax informs.

Casey nods and moves towards the door to put the note in his school bag.

"Can I hang out here with you both?" Casey asks.

Brax gestures towards the couch.

"I can't say I'll be much company at the moment. I still have a lot of paperwork to get through and Kyle seems pretty busy with his guitar; what are you working on, Ky?" Brax says.

"It's just an instrumental riff," Kyle replies.

"From what I've heard so far tonight it's pretty good. Do you think you could play what you've got, even just a little for us?"

Kyle's face reddens. "I guess. It's not finished yet," he replies and begins to strum away at what he had written so far.

"That's really good and even more so that you wrote that yourself," Brax praises.

"Thanks."

"It's good but it would be better if it was a little more interesting, sorry Ky," Casey says.

"Casey," Brax scolds.

"It's okay. I know this kind of music isn't your style," Kyle responds.

Kyle continues to play his guitar while Casey remains sitting on the couch, feeling bored as he watches both his brothers being thoroughly preoccupied.

Casey eventually decides it is too boring and excuses himself off to bed to flick through one of his surfing magazines. Kyle comes in not long after, putting his guitar away and within the next half hour, Brax pops his head into the room to say goodnight to the boys, reminding them of school the next morning.