A/N; I do NOT own Home and Away!

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Chapter Thirteen;

Braxton Household – 20-2-2013 at 8:00am.

Heath sat on his bed staring at nothing – space if anything – just thinking. It was his tenth birthday a special day, he was entering double digits.
But this particular day didn't feel special because he'd heard what Brax had said last night – Heath new his brother was working today.
The one day Heath wasn't his brother around was the one day he wasn't.

"Heath" Bianca shouted as she pushed the door to his bedroom open and stepped in smiling brightly. "Happy Birthday!" Bianca said and Heath glanced up at her.

"Thanks" Heath said quietly and Bianca plopped down on the bed she could see in his face that something was upsetting him.

"What's wrong?" Bianca asked and Heath glanced at her.

"Nothing" Heath said quickly and Bianca shook her head.

"Nah – uh, something is wrong" Bianca said and Heath rolled his eyes.

"Brax is working today – on my birthday" Heath said quietly and Bianca nodded.

"He's gonna be at the party" Bianca said and Heath shook his head.

"He's working a lot" Heath reminded her but Bianca ignored him.

"He'll still come – you're his brother" Bianca said and Heath was interrupted before he could reply.

_X_

Charlie walked into the boys bedroom to see Heath and Bianca sitting on the bed talking – she could easily see the disappointment in Heath's face – not needing to even guess what they had been speaking about because she already new.
Charlie had to admit she was disappointed as well – she couldn't believe he had chosen to work today.

"Happy Birthday Heath" Charlie said with a smile as she leaned down and kissed his head – Heath blushed and pushed her away.

"No kissing" Heath said and Charlie laughed.

"What are you too big for that now?" Charlie asked and Heath smirked up at her.

"I was too big for that before my birthday" Heath said and Bianca giggled – Charlie just smiled slightly.

"Right well everything is organised – so how about you come out of this room and have so breakfast?" Charlie asked but Heath frowned.

"My present?" Heath asked and Charlie glanced at him with a raised eyebrow – she could see the excitement in his eyes.

"So eager, you'll get it when your father arrives home" Charlie said calmly not even realising she was calling Brax – Heath's father.

"Not fair – he's working" Heath whined as he watched Charlie walk towards the door but she glanced back over her shoulder at him.

"He'll be here for your party" Charlie assured him as she turned around and begun to walk down the hallway.

"Yeah right mum" Heath shouted and Charlie just smiled brightly as she walked into the living room.

Charlie couldn't help but beam at Heath's choice of words. She couldn't believe how easy it flowed from his mouth.
But Charlie also understood the meaning behind his other words.
Brax had let him down – Brax had let Heath down yet again.
Charlie was left to pick up the pieces of the damage he had caused this time – just like she had to every other time he did something like this.
She had tried talking to Brax – showing him what he was missing out on but it always came back to work.

"Mum" Charlie was pulled out of her thoughts as Ruby tugged forcefully on her white sundress.

"Hey Rubes" Charlie murmured softly as she leaned down to pick Ruby up – the little girl smiled brightly up her mother.

"Mum – it's Heaf's birthday" Ruby said and Charlie nodded.

"Yes sweetie it is" Charlie said with a small smile and Ruby nodded happiness that she had got something right – remembered something.

"Is daddy coming?" Charlie glanced across the table to see April pulling herself onto a chair.

"Be careful" Charlie warned as she watched the toddler settle herself – the little girl's dark brown hair blowing softly in the breeze which was flowing through the open glass door.

"Daddy?" April asked again and Charlie smiled slightly.

"Not here baby – later thou" Charlie said softly with a small soft smile as she gazed at her two youngest daughters who were pining for the attention of their father.
Charlie new exactly how much her children missed their father because she missed him just as much.

_X_

Brax looked down at the paperwork in front of him unsure of where to begin since he didn't even want to be here in the first place.
Last night after his fight with Charlie Brax had really started thinking about everything – his life – his choices.

Flashback;

"What do you mean your working tomorrow?" Charlie shouted as she dumped a dish in the sink, Brax shook his head at his girlfriend – she wasn't taking this the way he thought she would.

"I'm sorry – I have to work tomorrow" Brax said softly and Charlie shook her head.

"On Heath's birthday – Brax!" Charlie sighed and Brax glanced at her.

"Charlie" Brax started but Charlie just shook her head.

"No – Brax you need to start putting us before the business. You have never missed Heath's birthday before – you told me that now you're missing his tenth Charlie said her voice rising slightly.

"Charlie I'll be back for the party" Brax said calmly but Charlie just whacked down the dish cloth and begun to walk out of the room. "Charlie" Brax called but Charlie didn't turn around causing Brax to sigh in frustration he was trying to make this work he really was. "Charlotte" He called this time firmer and Charlie stoped she knew that tone.

"I can't do this Brax – make it to the party" Charlie said and she left the room leaving Brax to think about what would happen if he missed the party.

End Flashback;

Brax looked down at the paperwork and sighed – he knew he couldn't give up on the restaurant after all it was his dream but he was coming to the conclusion he needed a manager.
The Riverboys were apart if him – they were family without the blood.
Brax knew he couldn't turn his back on them so he would have to merge his two families together,
Brax couldn't stand to lose Charlie and the kids but he couldn't give up his life either – Brax just needed to learn how to balance things better.

Brax dropped his pen and stood up quickly grabbing his jacket and walking out of the office door.
Brax new today was important – today was Heath's birthday and if he was going to start balancing things out he needed to start today by doing what he said and being at Heath's party.

_X_

Charlie sat on the back porch watching Heath and Bianca run around chasing the toddlers – she could hear the squealing and laugher from the little ones.
Charlie loved it when all the family got along – well the kids anyway.

"Hey baby" Charlie jumped at the sound of Brax's voice, feeling his hand on her waist actually cause Charlie to shudder with excitement – that he had down as he said.

"Hi" Charlie said softly and Brax smiled.

"I'm sorry about last night – but this is where I want to be right now" Brax said softly and Charlie nodded slightly.
It meant a lot to Charlie knowing that Brax had chosen to come home and be a part of the family.

"Daddy" Charlie was pulled from her thoughts but the sound of her little girls – glancing to her right she could see them running straight for Brax who scooped them up.

"Hey my girls –how are you today?" Brax asked as he glanced over to see Heath and Bianca walking over towards him – Casey was running in front of them waving his arms around in excitement.

"Baks" Casey shouted eagerly as he tugged on Brax's jeans.

"Hey mate" Brax said as he ruffled Casey's hair glancing at Bianca. "Hey princess" Brax said as he watched Bianca wrap her arms around Charlie tightly.

"Hi dad" Bianca said softly and Charlie glanced down at her surprised – Brax just smirked as he glanced at Heath.

"Happy Birthday Mate" Brax said as he lowered his youngest two daughters to the ground and grabbed Heath in a hug. "Sorry I wasn't here this morning" Brax said and Heath just shrugged.

"Mum said you would be here for the party – can I have my present now?" Heath asked and Brax glanced at Charlie with a smile and Charlie looked back proudly.

Brax had noticed the word mum and it made him grin – it was nice to know how Heath felt and thought of Charlie.

"Yeah alright – come on your presents in the shed" Brax said as he snapped out of his thoughts – ruffling Heath's hair he noticed the way the younger boy grinned.

"In the shed – it must be big" Heath said and Bianca giggled at his enthusiasm.

"Race ya?" Bianca said as she started running and Brax chuckled as he watched Heath run after Bianca and the toddler ran after him.
Brax could hear Heath calling at cheater and it made him laugh at the children's behaviour.

"You know being here I wouldn't change it" Brax said softly and Charlie nodded slowly.

"I know" Charlie said as she followed after the children.

_X_

Heath ran out of the shed with a massive grin as he flung himself at Charlie and Brax hugging them tightly.

"Thank-you, thank-you – a new bike, a BMX! Thanks mum and you to dad" Heath said as he turned around towards the shed. "I want to go for a ride" Heath said as he quickly ran back to the shed.

"Don't forget your helmet" Charlie called but all she heard in return was Heath muttering – glancing down thou she was meet by a very cranky two year old who was standing with his hands planted firmly on his steps staring at her with a pout.

"Me want bike to!" Casey demanded and Charlie just smiled as she watched the little toddler stomp his foot on the ground.

_X_

Charlie was snuggled up on the couch when Brax came into the lounge room and plopped down next to her.

"Hey babe – great day huh?" Brax asked as he took a sip of his beer. "Kids are all warn out – Heath loved his bike and all the kids want one" Brax said and Charlie glanced at him.

"Yeah he did – I better be going to bed; I have school tomorrow" Charlie said as she started to get up but Brax looped an arm around her waist and pulled her down on top of him so she was sitting on his lap.

"Baby come on talk to me" Brax encouraged but Charlie just stared at him.

"I can't but today you being at the party – it made the kids happy especially Heath – that is all that matters" Charlie said and Brax raised an eyebrow.

"Charlie we have to talk properly – about the future" Brax said but Charlie shook her head.

"No" Charlie said in a final tone as she went to get up but Brax held her firmly in place.

"You have been sulking and rude to me for weeks now – you've been on at me to get my act together and I want to talk to you about it – so you're not going anywhere until we have spoken, am I understood?" Brax asked firmly and Charlie just crossed her arms and pouted like a child.

_X_

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