AUTHORS NOTE: Thank you to everyone still reading and to: Braxton54, Bonnie Sveen Fan, and Guest for reviewing. And Guest: I promise your idea is in progress.
There is slight swearing in this chapter.
Brax wanders outside and sees Kyle sitting down in one of the Acapulco chairs reading and pats his hair.
"Hey, kiddo; how are you doing?"
"Good thanks, Brax."
They hear the slamming of a door coming from the driveway and exchange glances.
"What's that?" Kyle asks.
Brax shrugs.
"Don't know mate."
Brax walks inside and over to the front door to investigate as Kyle follows him inside.
Brax opens the door just as Heath makes his way to the flat door.
"What's with all the banging out there?" Brax asks.
"Just went and saw an old friend," Heath huffs then takes sight of Kyle standing in the lounge room.
Heath walks past Brax and heads straight over to Kyle and embraces him into a tight hug; catching Kyle by surprise who stands rigid in Heath's arms.
"I had no idea; that should never have happened to you and had I known at the time I would have broken those little shit's necks," Heath states passionately.
"What are you talking about?" Kyle asks.
"What happened with that Wesley kid and his mates," Heath clarifies, causing Kyle to blush, embarrassed.
"What do you know?" he whispers.
"I know enough, but I wish you would have told me. I would have protected you. You didn't deserve the severity of what they did and for them to continue with those stupid names because of my payback joke; I'm sorry," Heath replies and hugs Kyle tighter in comfort.
"I didn't want to think about it; sorry," Kyle replies.
"Don't ever apologise for that Kyle," Heath assures; only angering at the thought of Isaac telling him Kyle should apologise.
Kyle finally manages some movement in his arms that had been anchored to his body by Heath's hard hug and grips his hands on Heath's shirt.
"How did you find out?" Kyle whispers and looks up at his older brother.
"That guy I asked you about: Isaac; he and I used to be friends in high school and now he's teaching his nephew the heartless bullying ways that he used to get up to," Heath explains.
"I hope I wasn't the cause of conflict for you and an old friend," Kyle mumbles.
"Forget it, you mean more to me than that jerk any day."
"I hate to break up this moment, but shouldn't you be getting ready for your night out?" Brax says, glancing at the time, and seeing that Heath is meant to meet up with Bianca in less than two hours.
Heath pulls away gently from Kyle just as Casey walks out of the bedroom and sees, while complaining and yelling out because his ipad had died.
"Brax, Brax; where is my charger?"
Brax groans and rolls his eyes.
"That is your responsibility Casey," Brax lightly scolds, to which Casey lets out a frustrated moan.
"It's on the bench, where you left it," Brax informs.
Casey finds his charger, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Thanks Brax," Casey adds.
Heath chuckles as Casey makes his way back to the bedroom.
"Ready to pay up big time, my little Snoopy," Heath teases.
"Stop reminding us. It's bad enough you could win a medal for an all you can eat competition," Casey complains.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Case," Heath chuckles.
Casey huffs and walks back to his room.
Kyle smiles at Heath.
"I hope you have a nice night and I'm glad you've both made up. In honesty I don't mind paying my share, despite having to as punishment, you deserve it," Kyle says politely.
"Thanks, Kyle, that means a lot; I hope so too. Anyway I better go," Heath says.
Brax shuts the door behind his brother and glances over at Kyle.
"You okay little man?" Brax asks; referring to the traumatic topic Heath had opened up again.
Kyle nods.
"Yeah, it just hurts to think about, but it means a lot that Heath even went to that trouble to confront his friend," Kyle admits.
"Guess he can't be all that bad, huh?" Brax chuckles and wraps his arm around Kyle's shoulder.
Kyle agrees then makes his way to his bedroom.
Casey glances up as Kyle enters the room.
He is still attempting to play his ipad game with little charge and becoming frustrated by the lack of functionality.
"What was the idea of being Heath's kiss-arse out there?"
"Nothing, I wasn't. He just did something for me," Kyle explains.
"Whatever, I still think he's a jerk and it's not fair we have to do things for him," Casey grumbles.
Kyle rolls his eyes and ignores Casey and focuses his attention on tidying his clothes drawers.
Heath walks into Angelo's restaurant with Bianca beside him, swallowing the nervous pit in his stomach of the same feelings he felt when meeting Bianca for the first time.
Heath gestures to one side of a booth to encourage Bianca to take a seat before he slips into the opposite side.
Jules, the waitress comes over smiling at the couple.
"Can I get you two, something to drink?"
"Um, hey Jules, can we please get some water to start?" Heath answers.
Jules gives a nod and leaves.
"So is this actually happening for us; are you giving me another chance?" Heath starts.
"I do still have feelings for you Heath, that hasn't changed, but I meant what I said. I need to be sure I can rely on you to be supportive and mature when it comes to family. What would happen if we ever had a family?" Bianca says, taking Heath by surprise.
"You mean to say you're interested in having a family with me?" Heath stutters.
Bianca shrugs.
"I want us to work Heath."
Jules returns with the water.
"I'll be back shortly to sort out your order," she says sweetly.
Heath reaches over and grabs Bianca's hands.
"I'm willing to do anything to prove to you that you are so important to me, Babe, and believe me I've learnt my lesson with messing with my little brother beyond normal teasing. I won't lose you again Bee," Heath says in earnest and squeezes Bianca's hands.
"I sure hope so Heath," Bianca replies.
After a few moments of tenderness between the couple, the waitress, Jules, returns.
"What can I get you both tonight?"
Heath smiles at Bianca. Knowing his little brother's are paying he is going to make this makeup date count.
"Jules, could we please get a seafood tray for starters with the grilled zucchini and asparagus on the side, I'll get the monster's meat steak and can I get the pepper gravy and chips with that. Babe, what do you want; order anything?"
Heath looks towards Bianca, waiting for her decision.
"I'll get the honey soy pork belly with the mashed potato and seasoned veggies please," Bianca requests.
"Okay, anything for drinks or dessert?" Jules asks.
"Bring us a bottle of the finest wine and for dessert: the boysenberry cheesecake served with strawberries and blueberries sounds nice. Thanks Jules," Heath answers.
"I never thought I'd see the day Heath Braxton opts to drink wine," Bianca smirks.
"It's a special occasion, besides alcohol is all the same when more important things are at stake," Heath replies.
Jules brings back their wine and seafood platter a short while later and Heath and Bianca get stuck into the array of fresh seafood consisting of prawns, salmon, mussels, crab, and lobster tails.
Heath demolishes his main meal happily and come the time of dessert, both Bianca and Heath are beginning to feel full from their big starter and main, but manage to share most of the dessert.
"That meal was lovely Heath," Bianca compliments as she wipes her mouth and has a sip of water.
"I'm glad you liked it, Babe, but compliments really go to the chef and Kyle and Casey for paying," Heath replies and Bianca smiles.
"Are you sure they can afford this?" she asks, feeling concerned.
"Don't worry about it. Brax said he has it sorted with them and they do owe us for ruining our dinner," Heath informs.
"Even so, the meal has got to be pretty expensive Heath, it just doesn't feel right. Maybe I should put some towards it?" Bianca suggests.
"Forget it Babe, this is our treat, and I don't want you having to pay for any of tonight. Now do you think we can still be on for the movies?" Heath asks and gives Bianca's hands a squeeze again.
"Sure and I suppose if you insist, it would be a lovely treat, as long as Kyle and Casey aren't suffering with having to pay," Bianca informs.
Heath and Bianca get up from the booth and Heath heads over to the bar to get the bill from Jules.
"Thanks Jules, Brax said he'd fix this up."
"Sure, no problem; have a good night," Jules responds.
Heath looks at the receipt and reads: wine: thirty dollars, seafood platter: fifty dollars, dessert: ten dollars, steak: forty dollars, pork belly: thirty dollars.
The total cost of dinner is one hundred and sixty dollars.
Heath shoves the receipt in his pocket and meets Bianca at the door.
"Is everything okay?" she asks.
"Yeah, it's all sorted. Let's go see this movie."
Heath snakes his arm around Bianca's waist and they take a short walk along the beachfront before hopping into Heath's Ute and making their way towards the movie theatre in Yabbie Creek.
Heath and Bianca decide on seeing the latest thriller movie and after spending another forty dollars on tickets and popcorn, Heath shoves that receipt into his pocket to join the restaurant receipt.
Midway through the movie, Bianca rests her head against Heath's chest and intertwines her fingers in his.
After the movie, Heath and Bianca walk hand in hand back to Heath's Ute and under the dim lit sky they briefly stop; gazing into each other's eyes.
"Thank you again for a wonderful night Heath," Bianca compliments.
"I'm just glad you agreed," Heath replies in a soft tone.
Seconds later the couple lean in for a loving kiss.
Pulling apart they smile at each other.
"Can I ask you one thing, Babe?" Heath begins; holding onto Bianca's hands.
"Sure Heath; what is it?" Bianca encourages.
"Not that I'm complaining, but I'm curious: what made you change your mind and call me up for our night?" Heath asks, hoping to get the answer to his uncertainties of why Bianca suddenly changed her mind.
"It was Kyle actually," Bianca informs.
"Kyle; what did he do?" Heath asks, furrowing his brow in confusion.
"He came to see me at my office yesterday at lunch after I asked him to check in with me after his incident on Wednesday and the first thing he said to me was how he understood I was mad with you but explained how you have a tendency to take jokes too far. He praised how you were a really great big brother," Bianca explains.
Heath smiles at Kyle's kind hearted gesture.
"So that's why you decided to give me another chance?"
"No, Kyle also told me that I make you happy and said you deserved to be happy. He asked me, when I was ready, to give you another chance. He told me you love me," Bianca whispers.
Heath wraps his arm around Bianca's waist.
"He's not wrong. I do love you and you do make me really happy," Heath states and hugs Bianca, giving her a kiss.
"I love you too," Bianca whispers.
"I guess even confronting Wesley's Uncle in regards to what he and his friends did to Kyle could compare to what I owe him for getting you to give me a second chance," Heath mumbles and kisses Bianca again, but Bianca pulls away this time, resting her hand on Heath's chest.
"Wait: you confronted one of my student's relatives; you didn't do anything stupid did you, Heath?" Bianca inquires.
"No, Babe. His Uncle happened to be an old school friend, but I couldn't have imagined the information he told me of what they did to Kyle, like those little shit kids were proud, and I'm sure that wasn't all and Kyle didn't want to tell me either," Heath answers, starting to get angry again. Bianca sighs and leans into Heath.
"It was such a horrible ordeal for Kyle and I feel so sorry for him. I hope he's going to be okay, given the traumatic circumstances of it."
"Kyle's a good kid and he's got me and Brax in his corner," Heath clarifies.
Bianca smiles.
"And that's what makes you so wonderful." Bianca leans up and gives Heath a kiss.
The couple pull apart and finally hop into the Ute and Heath drives Bianca home then makes his way back home, as the time reaches just after ten-thirty.
He pulls into the driveway next to Brax's Ute and makes his way inside.
Brax hears Heath approaching and gets up from his place on the couch, opening the door to see Heath fumbling with his keys to his flat.
"Hey, mate; how did you go?" Brax greets.
Heath stops and turns to Brax with a smile.
"Yeah it was really good. Bianca and I officially made up and she even took it as far as a kiss and the whole meal and movie deal was just what we needed; here's all the receipts," Heath explains; digging into this pants pocket and handing over the receipt from the restaurant and the movie theatre.
Brax takes the receipts and raises his brow at the cost, before giving Heath a slap on the arm.
"Well, I'm happy for you, mate. Glad it was a worthwhile night. Now I just have to break the cost of all this to our little brothers in the morning," Brax chuckles.
"Good luck with that, but they did owe me. Anyway, I better go and hit the sack; got an early shift at the gym tomorrow, covering for Jeremy who called in sick."
"You must have had a good night if you are willingly going to bed this early," Brax jokes at his usually night owl brother.
"I can be responsible," Heath replies and opens the door to his flat.
"Good to see. Anyway, goodnight, mate," Brax farewells with a chuckle and closes the door.
He leaves the receipts on the dining room table to discuss with Kyle and Casey in the morning, Brax flicks off the TV and heads to his own bed.