A Mother's Treasure Is Her Daughter

[callyha]

Great chapters!

the last one with the flashbacks, wow.

Good luck in ur exams and i cant wait for more!

[Inactive User]

Wow loved the last chapter. The flashbacks were well-written. Poor Charlie-I feel sorry for her in the flashback because she wanted her daughter back. Ross is such a meanie which made me hate him for taking Ruby away from her real mum.

Good luck with your exams and am looking forwards to read more of this fanfiction xx

[lollypop]

Hey, sorry it's taken me so long to update. First I had a serious dose of writers block after my exams and then a couple of days ago my internet connection disappeared and I've only just got it back. So to make up for it I've written quite a lengthy chapter. I think it could pretty much be called an epic chapter. Anways sorry for the wait and please enjoy!!

Chapter 48

Sitting beside a sleeping Ruby in the hospital room, Charlie reflected on the days events that led to the biggest slip up she had made since she gave birth to her little girl. Only she wasn't Charlie's little girl anymore. Luckily for the whole family the doctor who the eldest Buckton girl had spoken with was only a stand in and Ruby's case had now been taken over by the hospitals regular doctor. Much to the relief of Charlie's parents.

Watching on from her bedside chair as Ruby slept peacefully, Charlie was thankful for once that her father had decided to return to work and his ever demanding career. She couldn't bear the thought of having another conversation with him, for she knew that if she tried, she would only end up revealing her resentment towards him and she wouldn't be able to hold back venom that came with those words. It was because of his decision that Charlie had lost any chance of being a mother to her daughter. A fact she had no choice but to live with everyday for the rest of her life, regardless of the pain it caused her.

Leaning closer to the bed, Charlie took a hold of Ruby's good hand and cupped it hers. Stroking the little girls unruly hair, she gently whispered to her, words she knew Ruby would not remember when she came to.

"I'm so sorry Ruby. All I wanted was for you to be happy and healthy, and I know with mum and dad taking care of you, you can be", she said as she gently stroked the side of the little girls face with her hand. "But I want you to know that I love you no matter what. And no matter what you are to mum and dad, or who people think you are or even who you think I are, to me you will always be my little girl. I love you so much sweetheart", she finished as a tear slid down her cheek.

Standing in the doorway Elsie listened to the words that came from her daughter's lips. Words of honesty, truth, raw emotion. Words that came from a side of Charlie that Elsie had not seen in a very long time. An open Charlie, a girl who was bearing her heart and soul to another person. Something she had never done with anyone else. Except Ruby. It wasn't just at that moment, Elsie realised that everyday, since the day Charlie returned from her aunty Michelle's, Ruby was the only one who ever got to see Charlie's true heart.

It was then that she realised, that she and her husband had robbed their only child of the chance to be a mother to a pretty special little girl. A girl who made everyone smile and laugh everyday. A little girl who's upbeat and playful presence could light up a room and charm those who were in it. But, as much as it pained her to be the villian in all of this, she knew that things could never be changed now and she had to make sure that Charlie knew to that. She walked into the room quietle and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"You that she can never know the truth. Not now", Elsie said. The only response that came was the slight nod from her daughter. And the words sunk in, Charlie finally released the tears she had been holding back for five years. "Oh Charlie", Elsie said as she wrapped her arms around Charlie and waited patiently for her to come to terms with the reality of it all...

"Rubes, if you keep throwing stuff in the shopping trolley like this we're gonna end up living off of ice cream and doritos for the rest of the week", Charlie stated as she dug through the contents of the shopping cart Ruby had been happily filling up for the last twenty minutes.

"I'm cool with that", Ruby said with a cheeky grin as she towards her mother, tossing the contents in her arms into the trolley and releasing a large breath as if she was lifting weights..

Looking at her daughter as she leaned over into the cart, filling it up with even more goodies, Charlie could do nothing but laugh as Ruby almost fell in. Gazing around Charlie's eyes fell upon a middle aged woman staring at her from across the store. Taking in the woman's facial features, suddenly she recognised who it was. It was an old neighbour of the Bucktons, Mrs. Robinson. A woman that had moved to the area when Charlie was staying with her aunty Michelle. But she never knew why? She became a friend of Elsie's. But Charlie always thought she was just another gossip, wanting to know what, how and why Charlie lived elsewhere for a year and about the sudden appearance of a baby girl. The rumour was she was adopted and raised as the Buckton's youngest child, and Charlie was sent away because of rebellious behaviour. But nobody ever knew the truth.

By the look on the woman's face, Charlie could tell she was staring at her more out of curiosity than sincerity. When Ruby reappeared, the woman's staring became so obvious that Charlie felt it was only right she went over and crushed her curiosity. Turning to Ruby, she told her she would be right back and made her way over to the fruit and vegetable aisle Mrs. Robinson had been leering from. When she saw Charlie walking over she quickly snapped out of her daze and began randomly rummaging through the fruit, pretending to be busy. Charlie walked right up beside her and stopped.

"You know it's rude to stare, but then you always were a nosey old mare even when I was younger", Charlie stated rather bluntly.

Mrs. Robinson turned and looked at Charlie with a stunned, speechless expression that left her blushing. She had never been outwardly insulted by anyone in public her whole life and someone she barely knew from her past manages to do it in one swift blow.

"Excuse me", Mrs. Robinson replied in a high pitched tone that expressed her annoyance.

"Don't give me that. I saw you. You've been doing it since you arrived her, you continued to do it the time I live here and now your doing it again", Charlie said irritated. "Go on, why don't you ask me every question you've always wanted to. No seriously go ahead. I'm sure you've heard the rumours over the years. Obviously your still curious or you wouldn't be staring so much".

"Mum", Ruby said as she walked up beside her mother pushing the cart in front off her. "What's going on?" she asked, clearly sensing the tension. "Who's this?".

Looking Ruby up and down, Mrs. Robinson was shocked. Beyond shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The teenage girl had just called Charlie Buckton 'mum'. But Charlie couldn't be more than thirty...the woman thought to herself. And that's when it all struck her. At that moment all the rumours, the theories made sense. Well most of them did. There was still a few that needed validating, but from the look on Charlie's face she wasn't going to push her luck and ask her in the middle of the supermarket.

"Rubes you remember Mrs. Robinson. Our old neighbour. She used to part of mum's weekly poker sessions", Charlie replied trying to jog her daughter's memory.

"Oh yeah. I'm sorry my mind went completely blank. How are you?", Ruby asked her shaking the woman's hand.

Mrs. Robinson couldn't couldn't reply to the question. She was still in too much shock. Ruby looked from the woman to Charlie who just smiled at her and then turned her gaze back to Elsie's old "friend".

"Um, Rubes maybe we should get going we've still a few things we need to get", Charlie said as she rubbed her daughter's back. Ruby didn't reply she just nodded her head in agreement with her mother. Turning back to Mrs. Robinson, Charlie gave her a snarky smile, "Goodbye Mrs. Robinson", she said as she and Ruby walked away.

As they continued their shopping Charlie explained what had just happened with their old neighbour and why she was so speechless, much to Ruby's amusement. She couldnt help but be proud of her mother for facing her past the way she had. It was like a brand new Charlie. A stronger Charlie and she was so grateful to have someone like that in her life. Walking down the aisle Charlie stopped at the sauce section, looking for something she could use for dinner that night. Ruby decided to go and up something for dessert.

"Hey I'll be back in a sec I'm just gonna look and see if they have any nice desserts", she said as she began to back away from the trolley. Charlie nodded at her, eyes fixed on the hundreds of different sauces in front of her. "Okay but don't take too long, I would like to do something elses today other than grocery shopping", she said as Ruby continued walking.

"I wo...", Ruby was cut off when she crashed into somebody at the end of the aisle. Looking down at herself she did a quick check to make sure she was still in tact. "I am so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going".

"It's okay", the voice replied with a slight laugh.

Ruby stopped herself from replying when she recognised the sound of the voice that was talking to her. Finally looking up she couldn't believe what she saw. The spikey dark brown hair, and green eyes she could just melt. The smile that could send hearts racing.

"Dylan", Ruby said in disbelief. "Wh...how...I thought you were going back to Perth?", she asked placing a hand on his arm to make sure it was a real person standing in front of her and not a figment of her imagination.

"I was. I did. But I then I got I call from a footie scout asking me to come to Sydney for AFL trials", he said with a glint in his eye. "You are now looing at the newest member of the Sydney Swans Football Club".

"Oh my God, that's amazing. I'm really happy for you", she said smiling at him with a smile she hadn't worn in quite a while.

"So, how have you been?", he asked placing his hands in his jean pockets and lowering his head so that he was staring Ruby right in the eye. "We said we were going to keep in touch when I went back to Perth but you never did. Was I that awful?", he asked with a joking laugh.

Ruby tensed up. A lot had happened since Dylan left the Bay. Stuff Ruby wasn't sure she was comfortable discussing with him. At that moment she prayed for the ground to open up and swallow her whole or for an interrutpion of some sort that would provide her with a reason not to have to get into a verly lengthy and touchy subject. As if her prayers had been heard, Charlie came walking down the aisle towards her daughter, curious as to who she had been talking to. When she rounded the corner she was surprised.

"Dylan. What are you doing here?", she asked with a smile as she stood beside her daughter.

"Um, I just moved here. I signed a contract to play professional footie for the Sydney Swans", he said with a look of pride.

"Wow, that's pretty awesome. Maybe we could come see you play some day", she said looking down at Ruby who again was smiling at him, looking as if she were about to melt. Dylan turned his attention to Ruby.

"I'd like that", he replied. "Hey Ruby, I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me...tonight? No pressure just a fun night out. I'd really like to get to know you that's if it's alright with your mum of course?", he said knowing he'd need Charlie's permission if anything were to happen.

Charlie turned her gaze from the handsome young man to her daughter and saw the pleading look in Ruby's eyes. She didn't like the idea of Ruby going out with someone she didn't know all that well in a city she hadn't lived in for a few years after everything that had happend. But she also knew that she couldn't keep her daughter wrapped in cotton wool forever and that at some point she would have to let her begin to live her life again. Ruby would be seventeen nexy month. She was almost an adult. It was time Charlie started to treat her that way.

"Mmmm...okay", Charlie said with a slight reluctance. But when she saw the smile on Ruby's face she knew she had made the right decision. "But any funny business and I will personally hunt you down", Charlie stated. Dylan laughed and held up his hands.

"No arguments here", he said with a laugh. "Anyways I better be off. I'll meet you harbour at six?", he asked looking at Ruby. She smiled.

"Six it is", she said giving him a small wave as he walked off.

Both Buckton women watched as he walked away, Ruby staring, mostly at his rear end wondeing what mark to give it out of ten. Charlie looked at her daughter and followed her gaze. She knew exactly what she was at.

"Come on you, let's get home and...wash that dirty little brain of yours out with soap", she said as she nudged Ruby on the arm. Her daughter looked at her and laughed and together, they made their way to the checkout. Discussing the Ruby's outfit possibilities.

As he made his way towards the self service machine near the exit Dylan smiled to himself. His day was looking up. Out of the corner of his eye he saw an elderly woman gazing at him. She looked him up and down and then she smiled at him. Confused, he smiled back and then continued on with what he was doing. But he stopped when he felt that the woman's eyes were still on him. Turning back around he eyed the woman suspiciously, wondering why she kept staring at him. Then he spoke.

"Can I help you?", he asked, trying not to sound annoyed by the situation.

"It is you", the woman said her smile getting bigger, "Dylan Bledcoe. The last time I saw you, you were visiting from Perth with your father. I remember you were always hanging around your older brother. You idolised him as if he was Superman. How is Grant? I haven't seen him around in a while", the woman finally finished. Her trip down memory lane angering the young man.

"He's dead. Murdered actually, but thanks for asking", Dylan replied bitterly as he picked up the items off of the self service machine and exited the store leaving the woman behind speechless.

Later that night, Charlie sat on the couch, her legs tucked under her mother's old blanket that hung on the back of the couch. A glass of wine in her hand and the company of four women and their tales of sex and love in the city of New York. Watching the film made Charlie realise that she hadn't been involved in a relationship since Angelo. A fact that Ruby pointed may times. She had hoped to eventally find someone new to start seeing. Unfortunantly for Charlie, the demands of being a police detective, running an entire station, having a teenage daughter and having her ex hanging around did exactly do anything to invite anybody new into her life.

It especially didn't help having Angelo's new besties, Miles and Alf, constantly trying get her to reconcile with him. But Charlie had moved on. Any feelings she had for him, whatever they had been had long gone and highly doubted she would ever feel that way again. If only she could get Angelo to finally accept that and let her go. As if the great Lord had sensed her need for company, she was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of Ruby closing over the front door. Putting her glass of wine down on the coffee table and switching off the DVD, Charlie straightened herself up.

"Mum", Ruby called as she placed her jacket on the coat rack.

"In here", Charlie shouted back and watched as her daughter appeared through the sitting room door. "So...how did your date with Prince Charming go? I'm guessing from that grin on you face he's a good kisser", Charlie said patting Ruby on the arm.

"It was..." Ruby began to reply but decided to build up a bit of anticipation from her mother.

"It was what? Great, terrible, a complete disaster?", Charlie asked nudging her waiting for a response.

"It was nice. Better than nice. It...it reminded me of what I've been missing since Geoff left", Ruby said holding Charlie's hand and giving her a warm smile. Charlie squeezed Ruby's hand back and then invited Ruby into her embrace, which Ruby gladly accepted.

"I'm really happy for you Rubes", she said as she kissed the top of her daughter's head.

Picking up the remote Charlie switched the DVD back on and cuddled up next to a beaming Ruby. Not realising what was taking place in the world outside their door.

Walking back up the street from dropping Ruby home, Dylan turned to the car that had pulled up beside him. Opening the car door he jumped in. Turning to the driver he gave her a cheeky smile.

"And there was me thinking I was gonna have to walk home", he said

"How did your little date go?", she asked, looking into her rear view mirror, and gazing at the house Dylan had just walked away from.

"Well, let's just say I have her eating out of the palm of my hand", he replied as he took out a piece of paper that contained Ruby's phone number on it.

"Nice work. Now you can go about building up a relationship with her", she said folding the piece of paper and handing it back to him. "Build up her trust, I don't care how you do it, just do it. She's the key to all this. She's the only person who can give us direct access to the mother".

"Remind me why we're doing this again?", Dylan asked, leaning his head back against head rest.

"Because I want Charlie Buckton to know what it's like to have her life toyed around with. I want her to feel the same pain that we have", she stated. A sense of a burning anger boiling to the surface as she spoke.

Dylan looked in the wing mirror, his eyes fixed on Ruby's house. Thinking about this "relationship" he was building or going to build with Ruby made him feel slightly disgust. Afterall, he was technically her uncle. But then his mind flickered to his older brother and suddenly he found a way to surpress the feeling of disgust.

"Are you one hundred percent certain you wanna go through with this Tracy?", he asked turning back to look at her. Turning to Dylan, Tracy looked him straight in the eye and without a moments hesitation she replied.

"Absolutely",

Turning the key in the ignition Tracy pulled out and sped off down the street. Her mind running rampant with plans. And within seconds the car was out of sight.

Sitting on the couch, Ruby lay into her mother. Feeling Charlie's protective arms wrapped around her. Ruby felt for the first time in a long time, like she was starting to feel normal again. She place an arm on top of the one's that were around her gave them a squeeze. After which she felt a loving kiss being planted on her head. Things seemed like they were finally looking up. If only it were true...

[callyha]

Great chapter!

Is something bad going to happen to Charlie?

"You know it's rude to stare, but then you always were a nosey old mare even when I was younger", Charlie stated rather bluntly.- LOL so funny!

More soon please

[Inactive User]

Liked the flashbacks Poor Charlie Aww Elise is such a sweetie comforting her daughter.

Uh oh I don't like the sound of Tracy and Dylan doing something about Charlie and Ruby

More soon please x

[Chester-Sam]

Oh no! This would crush Ruby!

Grant and all his ties are just bad news, I hope Charlie stops this before they hurt Ruby

I freakin' love this fic and beg you to update

Legendary writing skills,

- Sam!