AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks everyone for the support! This chapter has a little bit of swearing.

Kyle takes a seat on the couch, he is feeling dejected after having to bring up his feelings about his hair.

Heath gets up from the table and approaches Kyle.

Heath strokes his hand through Kyle's fading pink hair, still feeling guilty that he was bullied because of it.

"What's up Bubs? I'm still your big brother so talk to me," Heath demands gently.

Kyle glances up.

"I'm just thinking about how talking about how it all made me feel," Kyle mumbles.

Heath sighs, still caressing Kyle's hair in comfort.

"I'm sorry and I mean it, Bubs. You know you will always be my favourite brother; just don't tell anyone," Heath assures.

Kyle wants to smile but is unsure so shrugs.

"Sorry for saying this, but it doesn't seem like it sometimes. Sometimes I feel like all you see me as is a skinny wimpy dork that is easy to push around, like I'm worthless," Kyle barely mumbles.

Heath instantly stops stroking Kyle's hair and Kyle's stomach flutters thinking he has said the wrong thing and Heath would be ready to give him a slap, but Heath slips around the couch in a flash and plonks down on the couch next to Kyle and immediately grabs Kyle's chin and forces his gaze.

"Don't you ever, ever think that Kyle. I love you so much Ky, and sure you may be a skinny wimpy dork, but you're my favourite skinny wimpy dork and I wouldn't change anything about you for the world," Heath says firmly then ruffles Kyle's hair and roughly pulls Kyle into a tight hug and gives him a firm kiss on his forehead.

Kyle stares up at Heath in surprise when the older Braxton pulls away, but remains gripping Kyle's arms firmly.

"I never meant to make you feel like you weren't important to me Kyle and I know I really overstepped with you and for that I am sorry. You are too special to deserve some of what I did to you and that includes the night I abused you..."

"You've never abused me, sure some of the things you've done have really hurt but I don't think you've ever abused me," Kyle mumbles.

Heath wraps his arm around Kyle and hugs him, while Kyle leans up against Heath's shoulder.

"You're too sweet and forgiving for your own good Kyle. I'm referring to the night I gave you that pink belly and crossed a line when I slapped you hard."

"Can I ask you something, Heath?" Kyle asks and looks up at his bulkier brother.

"Of course; ask anything," Heath replies.

Kyle stares at his hands in his lap.

"Why did you used to bully all those kids when you were in high school and before, and seem to get pleasure from it? Do you know what it's like to be bullied and feel like you don't matter? It kills you from the inside," Kyle gulps as soon as the words come out of his mouth.

"Sorry...I didn't mean."

"Shoosh Kylie," Heath says sternly and pulls his arm away from around Kyle's shoulders and sighs.

"I'm going to tell you something Ky and no-one else besides Brax knows this about me..."

"If it's a secret you don't need to say," Kyle interrupts.

Heath shakes his head and glances wearily at Kyle as he rests his hands heavily in his lap.

"Yes I think I do Kyle. It's about Dad. You see you and Case were too little when Dad left and as much as Brax tried to help, he was no match for Dad, and I would often cop some harsh lessons from Dad. He would beat me, belt me, sometimes kick me, and tell me I was nothing and that I wouldn't amount to anything; a waste of space," Heath explains quietly and Kyle shifts awkwardly on the couch not knowing how to react.

"I remember you used to always give Casey and me noogies, wet willies, and used to tickle us until we peed when we were little and used to annoy you. It wasn't until we got a bit older you started giving us wedgies and sometimes pink bellies," Kyle whispers, avoiding Heath's gaze.

Heath nods.

"I won't deny I'm rough around the edges. Guess it was like my way of dealing with what Dad did to me and shaped me. So yes Kyle, I do know what it's like to be bullied, but for me I was so hurt and angry by what Dad had done I turned into a bully and found pleasure in bullying others because then I wouldn't have felt like I was the only one," Heath explains.

"Do you know why I radiated towards you since you came to us and why I have a special place for you here?" Heath asks and pats his chest.

Kyle shakes his head.

"I saw vulnerability in you, the same I had when I was dealt the hard hand. Casey takes after Brax; a tough fighter," Heath confesses.

Brax has since popped out of his bedroom after grabbing a new container of wax for his surfboard and briefly overhears his younger brother's deep in a heart to heart talk and he gives an approving nod and lets them be while he readies his board and continues on for his surf.

Kyle feels like he is going to cry; he felt so sorry for Heath.

Tears sprung in his eyes.

He is shocked out of his thoughts when Heath playfully punches his arm.

"Listen to my psycho babble, huh?" Heath awkwardly laughs.

Kyle glances up and gives Heath a sympathetic smile before crashing into him and wrapping his arms around him.

"Heath, I am so sorry for what happened to you. No-one deserves what you dealt with," Kyle blurts out and starts to cry, not knowing what else to do for his big brother.

Heath wraps his strong arms around Kyle tight.

"There is no need to shed tears for me Kyle," Heath comforts.

"I love you Heath," Kyle mumbles; slowing down his tears.

Heath pulls Kyle away from him and holds his hands on his cheeks; gazing into the sensitive teens eyes.

"I love you more Bubs," Heath replies and gives Kyle a firm kiss on the head.

"I promise I won't tell anyone about what happened to you."

Heath nods, "You're a good kid, Kyle. Casey doesn't need to know; best to protect him from that."

Heath holds Kyle in a hug for a further minute before they separate.

"How about my turn to ask you something," Heath says softly and Kyle furrows his brow.

Heath still has his arm around Kyle's shoulder.

"How are you going and I don't just mean recently with what I've done; I mean after your own severe bullying incident from school?" Heath initiates.

"You know about that?" Kyle asks; feeling embarrassed.

Heath nods, "Brax told me."

"I begged him not to say," Kyle mumbles, starting to feel hurt that his big brother betrayed him.

"What do you mean Ky? He only told me you had to come home because some kids were picking on you real bad; didn't go into any detail and neither did Bianca. I just figured you were called some names and being sensitive couldn't handle it," Heath replies and Kyle relaxes knowing Brax hadn't told, but shakes his head in response.

Heath nudges Kyle.

"Well then, you wanna tell me what really happened?" Heath asks softly.

Kyle shakes his head. "I don't want to relive that again after spending the last few weeks trying to move on from it. All you need to know is that it was similar in some ways to the time you told me about with you and your friends and it was from the same kids who teased me about my hair being pink, well except for one who got expelled for the bullying incident: Aiden Connors, the other two who got suspended that time were the ones who teased me again: Wesley James and Grant Peary, but they are now expelled too so it doesn't matter. Please don't make me talk about it anymore," Kyle mumbles.

Heath gasps; he knew the surname of one of the kids; he was in Heath's bully group at high school. No way could it be the same?

"Ky, does this Wesley kid have a Dad called Isaac by any chance?" Heath asks.

Kyle furrows his brow.

"I don't think so, but I've heard him mention an Uncle Isaac before; why?"

"No reason."

Heath sighs realising no way could anyone treat his little brother the way he and his friends treated that nerd in school; sure he'd done some rough things to Kyle that was uncalled for, but Kyle did not deserve that; then again maybe neither did the geek from school.

Heath pulls Kyle close again and comforts him briefly.

"If that is what happened, I'm just glad you didn't do a runner on us again," Heath mutters.

Kyle sighs against Heath's chest.

"What?" Heath questions and looks down at his brother.

"It's just, Brax said the same thing."

"Well it was pretty serious little bro, and I'd hate to lose you," Heath says.

"I'm older now. I know I'm still weak and sensitive but I was twelve then," Kyle mutters.

Heath pulls Kyle away from him slightly to glance into his eyes.

"Doesn't matter. I want you to promise me that you won't even think about it," Heath says firmly.

"I won't," Kyle grumbles.

"Kyle, I mean it; promise me," Heath says more sternly.

"Sorry, I promise," Kyle mumbles.

Heath gives Kyle another squeezing hug.

When the brothers break apart again, Kyle stands up to head towards his bedroom.

"Nothing's going to happen to you like that again Bubs, I promise; I won't let it and I meant what I said in the meeting: no more mean pranks, just plain old regular brotherly teasing," Heath reassures as he smiles at Kyle.

Kyle nods and walks away.

Heath rests back on the couch stewing over what he'd just told Kyle when his phone vibrates in his pocket.

Pulling his phone out, Heath's heart skips a beat as he reads Bianca's name at the top of his screen.

Taking a heavy breath, Heath answers, "Bianca: hi."

"Hi Heath," Bianca greets in a soft tone on the other end of the line.

"Bianca, look; I'm sorry. I get the things I did to my brothers was a stupid and irresponsible idea, they mean a lot to me and I just get carried away sometimes. I really don't want to lose you; you mean so much to me," Heath blurts out.

"Heath: stop. I know you mean well with your apology..."

"Please Bianca, don't just call me up to tell me it's officially over; I don't think I could handle that," Heath interrupts.

"Heath, let me speak," Bianca says firmly and continues, "I am willing to give you another chance but only if you are really serious about us and your family."

"Believe me Babe, I am," Heath blurts.

"Okay, I guess we can go ahead for our original dinner date tonight and discuss where we are to take our relationship," Bianca finishes.

"Sure. I will pick you up and I won't let you down."

"I sure hope not Heath. I'm relying on you not to stuff me around. I will see you tonight."

"Yeah, see you," Heath mumbles and hangs up his phone and hesitates before flicking on the TV to defer his thoughts.

When Brax comes back, he sees Heath still on the couch, watching TV.

He grabs a beer for himself and his brother and hands the beer to Heath.

"That was brave of you to tell Kyle about what happened with Dad," Brax initiates.

Heath takes the beer and shrugs.

"I'm really proud of you Heath for stepping up and being the good big brother," Brax praises.

"Whatever," Heath says with a grumble; despite everything he was still typical Heath Braxton and being emotional was not his forte when it came to talking with his brother.

Heath remains quiet as he drinks his beer next to his big brother.

"When you were gone, Bianca called me," Heath says quietly.

"Yeah, and?" Brax prompts, giving his brother an elbow nudge.

"She's willing to give me another chance," Heath replies.

"Good for you mate," Brax praises, "I guess this means you're still on for tonight at the restaurant?"

"Yeah she still wants to go and talk about us. I hope she still wants to take me back long enough to have a meal," Heath replies.

Brax slaps Heath's shoulder.

"You both will move on from the fight and when she sees you still willing to give her a romantic night, it'll all work out; you'll see," Brax assures.

"I hope so. I certainly learnt my lesson. I really think I feel something for Bianca," Heath admits.

Brax snickers.

"There's no secret there. You both are a really good match, though you might want to get ready as it's almost three and I still have the table booked for you both at five-thirty."

Heath finishes his beer and gets up from the couch.

"Thanks for organising this big fella," Heath says.

"No need to thank me, it's all our little brother's doing as their punishment."

Heath snickers and makes his way into his flat to get organised for his night.

Kyle enters the bedroom and Casey is focused on playing his ipad games.

"Where were you?" Casey asks, not taking his eyes off his game.

"I was just hanging out on the couch for a while," Kyle replies; sitting on his bed and picking up his book.

"I'm surprised you could stand being out there so long with: I don't give a damn Heath," Casey grumbles.

Kyle frowns at Casey's comments, still reeling from what Heath told him and feeling sorry for his older brother.

"Casey, he was being pretty genuine," Kyle defends.

Casey glances over at Kyle.

"You're kidding? Heath is never genuine, he was probably just tricking you because he knows you're easy," Casey replies.

"I'm not easy," Kyle grumbles, feeling annoyed.

A short while later, Brax knocks on their bedroom door and pokes his head in.

"I just came to tell you boys that Heath is going for his dinner with Bianca again tonight as initially planned and once the dinner is over I will be collecting the bill for you boys to pay halves in," Brax informs.

Casey instantly shuts off his game and sits cross-legged on his bed, with a hard frown.

"Why? I thought Bianca didn't want anything to do with Heath jerk-face," Casey moans.

"Casey, stop calling your brother names and it seems Bianca is giving Heath another chance," Brax replies firmly; giving Casey an unimpressed frown.

Kyle smiles lightly at the news, feeling pleased that his efforts in talking with Bianca the day before have paid off.

"Anyway I just wanted to inform you boys as to why I will be taking money off both of your allowances," Brax leaves and shuts the door.

Casey let out an exasperated sigh.

"Can you believe this? We were just about to get away with not having to pay for Heath's pig out dinner and then he goes and makes up with Bianca, just typical. I bet he just did that to annoy us!" Casey exclaims.

"Have you ever thought that it's actually a good thing Heath and Miss. Scott, are giving it another chance, you know Heath really likes her more than any girl he's ever gone out with," Kyle states.

Casey glares at his brother.

"Who's side are you on? Anyone would think you think this is a good thing, us having to pay while Heath pig's himself out!" Casey grumbles.

"I'm not on anyone's side, I just believe everyone should be happy," Kyle says quietly.

"Whatever," Casey grumbles and returns to his ipad game while Kyle begins reading his book in silence, before deciding to take his book outside to read to get away from Casey's tension.

Upon getting his clothes for the evening ready, Heath couldn't help but wonder what Kyle had said.

The name of his old friend keeps coming to his mind.

Heath stops what he's doing and decides in order to protect his little brother, he would take a visit to his old friend, Issac James, and have a word with him over his nephew.

Heath drives over to Reefton Lakes to James's Auto mechanics.

Heath walks into the mechanics to see a burly man covered in motor oil and grease and wearing a cap to cover his scruffy black hair.

The man looks up from the bonnet of the car he is working on and takes sight of Heath.

"Well if it isn't Heath Braxton. Why I haven't seen you since High School; put her there," Isaac greets, holding out his dirty hand for Heath to clasp.

Heath however ignores Isaac's gesture and just glares at his old friend.

"Isaac James," Heath greets harshly.

"What brings you back around this part of town?" Isaac questions.

"I'm actually here about your nephew, Wesley."

"Ah, he's a great kid; ain't he? I hear some fine tales from him about incidents at school – like this one wimpy loser he and his mates bully. Say he's the biggest pushover target. Apparently he even fronted up at school with pink hair, like some freak. Wes told me they thought up this out of sight name for him too: pixie, emo fairy; isn't that gold?" Isaac laughs, "Reminds me of old times with us and the gang bullying those easy target nerds. Boy, I'm so proud of my little nephew!"

Heath makes a low growl; becoming angrier than what he intended and feeling guilty over the extent of Kyle being bullied for his hair prank idea.

"That kid that your nephew and his little crew of shits were referring to is my little brother and the reason I'm here today is because they are responsible for tormenting my little brother to hell and back."

"You're meaning to say that weak girl that Wes and his mate swirled over his pink hair choice and the time they managed to tape this one to a gym bench in just his jocks that were hooked over the bench in one of the worst wedgies in history, as well as after beating up on him was your brother? Which one: that bratty one that kicked me that time or the one who did all that pathetic crying?" Isaac asks.

Heath scowls and thinks back on that day.

Isaac had come around to see if Heath wanted to hang at the beach for a surf, and two-year-old Casey had been throwing a tantrum and when Heath opened the door to his friend, the youngest barged by to kick Isaac and when Heath decided to hang out with his friend, Kyle had cried non-stop for a long time, wanting his older brother.

"It was the older one, Kyle," Heath replies with a grumble.

"Oh, so the crier; now I've heard everything; it makes sense. Who would have thought, Heath Braxton would have such a weakling for a brother; boy you must have grown up to be soft if you couldn't teach him to be tough," Isaac chuckles and roughly slaps Heath on the arm, while Heath resists the urge to punch his friend for glorifying the bullying that his nephew had done to Kyle.

"This isn't a joke, Isaac! Kyle is a great kid and despite being a bit of a nerd did not deserve the kind of treatment that Wesley and those other little shits put him through!" Heath snaps, still shocked by the severity of what actually happened to Kyle, considering he hadn't told Heath anything.

"It ain't my fault or Wes's fault your brother can't stand up for himself and he's a right sissy; maybe he needed this to build some character," Isaac comments.

"Kyle is fine just the way he is and bullying isn't about building character!" Heath argues.

"Look: My nephew's a great kid, who's now been expelled because your brother Kyle is a snitch, so if anything, he owes Wesley an apology for messing up his schooling," Isaac claims.

Heath scoffs.

"Stuff that; that ain't happening. You need to tell your nephew to back off, or he'll be dealing with me," Heath warns.

"What; is that a threat?" Isaac challenges, as he gets in close to Heath's face.

"Call it what you will, but I won't stand for attacks on my brother."

"Well, you have certainly changed," Isaac comments.

"At least I'm still not the arrogant bully from High School who teaches his nephew that it's okay to mercifully bully good kids. I can't believe I was ever friends with you," Heath scoffs.

"Don't try and deny you weren't part of that character building back in High school too," Isaac accuses.

"I'm not, but I realise how wrong it was and how much of an idiot we were for it; where-as you obviously don't!" Heath snaps.

"I don't need to listen to you. If you've got nothing more to say you should leave," Isaac states.

Heath huffs, "Gladly."

Heath then storms out of the mechanics and drives back to Summer Bay.