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As Long As I Have You

Guest callyha

By Guest callyha
in The Vault

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Sazzle Member

Sazzle

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Really great update! Writing of emotions and interactions is really fab and you can feel for the characters.

Poor Ruby finding out like that and Charlie is so stressed out...

Looking forward to next update - excited to see how it all develops :)

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callyha Super Poster

callyha

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THANK YOU so much guys! I really am so glad that you are still reading! (I'm getting worse at posting chapters, I do apologise I'm just getting too much put into my very small brain) ANYWAY.....hope you guys like :D

totally, cb2180, Danni, soph1303, Charlie&Brax_lover & sazzle :wub:

Sarah: Reason is explained why Charlie told Ruby twice is in this chapter......no need to be confused :)

Chapter 36

Her hearbeat was heard in her ears. She looked around to see all the face looking back at her, pointing, laughing, showing no mercy as she tried to escape. Her dress was torn, her mascara smudged down her face from the tears she cried. She looked to the boy. He stood with his hands in his pockets, joining in with the laughing, as she tried to find a friend. No one was there to help.

Nothing much had changed; she still heard her heartbeat in her ears, she still saw people looking, she still saw them laughing. Fingers weren't pointing and he wasn't stood their with his hands in his pockets. Instead, there stood a thirteen year old girl who had just been told she was the product of rape. Charlie closed her eyes, the realisation of what she had told Ruby had hit her. No thirteen year old should be told that, no matter how mature they seem to be or how much they want to know. Charlie soon felt herself loose all sense of herself and she felt as though she was turning into someone different. Someone who was the complete opposite of who she was.

"Ruby I-" Charlie tried to do damage control

"No" Ruby shook her head "I wanted to know why you loathed him" Ruby wiped the tear form her cheek "Loath doesn't seem a strong enough word" Her eyes and nose stung "And you still wanted to keep me?" Ruby remembered how much Charlie had wanted to keep her; even her parents had seen the desperation in Charlie's young eyes all those years ago

"Yea" Charlie spoke in an untentional whisper

"Why?" Ruby asked "If you hated him so much, why did you want to keep the sole reminder of what happened?"

"It was never the baby's fault. If I denied the baby a change of life, I'd be punishing the baby. It wasn't my fault either, althought, at the time I thought differently. The bigger I got with you, the more connected with you I got. I felt your every move, I heard your heartbeat at the hospital, you were a source of comfort to me when I felt alone. The baby was a blessing, there to help me cope through the aftermath" Charlie wiped the mass of tears that fell from her eyes "I was seven months pregnant when my dad told me about the adoption. I couldn't believe what he was saying to me. I'd spent so long with you, that the thought of you been taken away was heartbreaking. I was asked what kind of family did I want to raise my baby, so I made one up. Think no family would exsist. I was wrong. The Young family appeared and ticked all the boxes in my made-up family"

Charlie paused for what seemed hours, she looked around at everyone; all continuing with their own things. Surfing the waves, basking in the warm sun, chasing each other along the waters edge. Charlie then looked back to the bubble she and Ruby were in; both their faces red and blotchy from the continual stop and start of crying as they spoke. Both of them having laboured breathing as they tried to contain more cries

"Did he know?" Ruby asked, looking up to try and keep the tears in her eyes "about me I mean?"

Charlie bowed her head as she shook it "No" Charlie swallowed "I didn't know what was happening and before I knew it, I was been told to look at a screen which showed my baby. After that, I never really thought about that night or how I got pregnant. After that, it was me and my bump" Charlie placed her hand on her stomach. Ruby noticed this action, but put it down to the memories of Charlie been pregnant with her causing her to do this. Charlie, on the other hand, never gave what she had doen a second thought

"What about your family? what did they say to everything?" Ruby asked, knowing there was no going back to simple small talk between the two of them "I mean, your thirteen years old, have five years of school left and then however many at college or uni" Ruby sat down on the sand after realising that she and Charlie had only walked ten metres -if that- since they first began to speak "Didn't they have anything to say about it all?"

"My dad's parents died in a car accident six years before I was born and my mum lost her dad when she was two. My grandmother had a heart attack when I was two and my aunty moved to Perth" Charlie replied, joining ruby on the sand "There was only my dad who was there. I suppose thats why things happened so quick. There was no-one there to add complications"

"Was it easy?" Charlie looked to Ruby "The birth. Mum told me it hurts like hell, and she's don't it twice and was twenty-nine and thirty one when she had Issy and Dan"

"I don't know" Charlie looked out to the water "I had to have a cesarean because my pelvis was too small to have a natural birth"

"Oh" Ruby replied. "Charlie-" ruby paused for a moment. She had heard the same thing before, about how Charlie had gotten oregnant and how much heartache it had caused Charlie. But it was never enough for Ruby; in her head she had imagines something completely different, a fairytale of some kind with a happier story. Charlie's face was now the same as it had been the first time Ruby had been told the truth "I'm sorry"

Charlie looked to Ruby and wondered why she heard the word 'sorry'. She had a right to know, she had the right to understand Charlie's feelings toward Grant. In the mass of everything happening with Angelo's death, the club going under, the pregnancy and Brax, Charlie had forgotten most of the weeks previous "I've told you before" Charlie realised

"Yea" Ruby felt cold "I'm sorry I made you tell me again, Its just-"

"You don't want to be associated with something so horrible" Charlie finished Ruby's sentance off "Its not the biology that makes a father. Its the love" Charlie smiled to

Ruby "Paul has been a fantastic father to you. At least one decision I made was the right one"

"I wouldn't say that" Ruby replied "You came down hard on me when I pushed you, not very many people would do that" Ruby smiled "I just, I had it in my head that, my biological father was this great figure in the world of finance or some high paid job. I guess been told something different is hard to take"

"I can't begin to imagine how you feel Ruby" Charlie placed her hand on Ruby's hair and ran her hand down the wavy locks "In such a short time you've found out so much.

Some things good and some things far from good" Charlie smiled as Ruby turned to face her "You're stronger than what I am"

"No I'm not" Ruby shook her head "I just wanted the answers to some questions and I've, I've had to accept that the answers aren't what I hope for"

"I wish you could have met my parents" Charlie opened her eyes wide after speaking, the words just came out

"Really? Why?" Ruby asked excitedly. finally something on the positive side was about to be spoken

"Well, you remind me of them both. My dad wouldn't stop until he had all the answers he was looking for. Neither of you would have backed down in an arguement" Charlie found herself close to laughter for the first time since she had spoken more about the rape "and my mum. Well, she was a small lady with a very loud voice. If you ignored her the once, you'd regret it"

"Well, I sort of met your dad" Ruby placed her hand on Charlie's "For a least a few hours"

"It was more than a few hours. And I have never been as happy since" Charlie smiled

"What about Brax?" Ruby asked

"What?" Charlie asked, wanting to know how Ruby knew about Brax "What about him?"

"Come on. I saw how you two looked at each other the night of the fight. You spent ages at the hospital when he and Angelo were in a coma and I'm friends with Casey, his brother" Ruby smiled, kowing she had Charlie in a corner

"Okay fine" Charlie held her hands up "Brax and I are sort of together"

"How can you be sort of together?" Ruby asked "You're either together or you're not. And don't give me any of that 'its complicated' fluff"

"Okay, I wont" Charlie smiled "Are you sure you want me to carry on telling you about my life?" Charlie was concerned that things were moving even faster than they were before

"Charlie, things are never, ever going to be simple with us any more. We can't go back to not knowing each other and we can't expect to leave things here, where they are. I don't know what tomorrow or next week will bring, but I do know that, now you are in my life, I don't want to let this go. We can have a unique relationship"

"A unique relationship? That's what this is?" Charlie found herslef smiling insesently

"Yea" Ruby smiled "So....you and Brax?"

Charlie paused for a moment. But it seemed to go on for hours. There, right infront of her, was the baby she had given up for adoption -against her wishes- waiting to hear about what she and her boyfriend were planning on doing next. Charlie never imagined she would be having this conversation with her.....not after only a month (give or take a week) of really talking. Not wanting things to be rushed and spoiled, Charlie thought about saying that they were going to have another talk about where they stood with each other, but then she thought about Casey and how close he was with Ruby. Any news about her and Brax, Casey would know.

Ruby breathed out -almost saying phew- as she waited for a reply from Charlie. She looked closely at the woman who gave birth to her and took in every detail she could.

She noticed one similarity between them both: their eyes. Both big and round,but Charlie's were blue Ruby's brown. As she continued to look at Charlie, she began to pick of other small features that were similar to her own; the way their hair parted and fell, the way they both sucked their lower lip when they were nervous.

"They're going okay. I don't want to rush into anything with Brax after Angelo" Charlie finaly spoke

"Not rushing into something, that's good thinking" Ruby had to smile at the irony "I hope things work out for you both. Seems like you need some happiness in your life" Ruby's eyes widened "I didn't mean it like that"

"Its fine. I know what you meant" Charlie reassured the young girl "I went from Mr. Abuse, to Mr. use. Maybe now I've found the right guy"

"I don't know if he's the right guy, but he's a good guy. He's always been there for Casey and Heath. Casey says Brax has sacrificed alot for them both. I don't know how much yu know about Brax and his family, but, the tattoos make him look meaner than he is"

"No he is. He's amazing" Charlie smiled as she spoke about Brax "I owe him so much"

Ruby smiled and tucked the strand of hair that blew in the wind behind her ear. She caught a glimpse of her watch and was shocked at the time "Oh my gosh" Ruby brought her hand to her mouth

"What?" Charlie asked, looking worringly to Ruby

"I've erm, I've been longer than I said I was" Ruby looked to Charlie "Its been great -don't get me wrong. I've learnt so much and know that, no matter what happens, I want to keep seeing you when I can" Ruby bot her lip "But I'd better get home. Mum and dad will be wondering where I am"

"Oh, ok" Charlie replied, feeling slightly saddened

"Erm, are you free tomorrow?" Ruby asked, hoping the answer was yes

Charlie looked to Ruby and saw the hoping look in her eyes. Brax was been discharged from hospital tomorrow and Charlie wanted to be there to help him get home "Erm"

"It wouldn't be until after school" Ruby added

"Erm, yea. I'm free" Charlie smiled, glad that Ruby had said it would be from 4 onwards

"Cool. Can I text you tomorrow with the details?" Ruby asked as she stood

"Yea thats fine" Charlie replied as she rose to her feet

"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow then" Ruby smiled before walking back along the beach, heading for home.

callyha Super Poster

callyha

Posted
Posted

Next update for you guys. Thank you so much for commenting, they do mean a lot and I'm just annoyed with myself that I keep leaving days and sometimes) weeks between each update. I hope this is okay for you and has enough :wub: in for you

Chapter 36

Ruby opened the door to her warm house and threw her bag under the table at the bottom of the stairs. She headed into the kitchen and made herself a drink and grabbed a cookie from the jar before heading into the front room to relax. As she sat, she noticed Issy sitting in the corner, her nose inside one of the many books that was piled around her.

"Hey" Issy smiled as she turned to face her younger sister "where've you been?" Issy put the book marker on the page and closed the book

"I er-" Ruby looked down

"You were with Charlie" Issy finished Ruby's sentence "How was it?" Issy asked, causing Ruby to be a little shocked "Listen, I know it sounds like a total contridiction; me wanting to know, but, I've just been so busy studying that, anything else I had to take in would cause my brain to blow up"

"You really want to know?" Ruby asked as Issy made her way closer

"Yea" Issy nodded "Ruby, you're my little sister and I wouldn't be a good big sister if I didn't listen to you. This is something that is important to you and because it is, it affects me too" Issy smiled to Ruby

"It was okay" Ruby began "I know that Charlie never wanted to give me away, she wanted to raise me and be with me" Ruby smiled as she heard Charlie's voice in her head, saying what Ruby had just said "even after how I was concieved" Ruby bowed her head, yet the smile was still on her face "Charlie had told me ages ago about my biological father, and I took it all in, but it never registered with me. It didn't seem real. Just now she told me again, but this time it has sunk in, I know and, yea I felt sick to my stomach when I saw how distraught Charlie was, but, I was grateful to Charlie" Ruby tucked her hair behind her ear "It sounds weird and not right, but, if Charlie had had me aborted, I would never have had you guys in my life"

"Aww Rubes" Issy was touched "I take it he wasn't the nicest bloke that ever lived"

Ruby looked to Issy, although she wanted to tell Issy that it was rape, Ruby couldn't bring herself to say the word; such a small word that caused so much heartache and pain "Erm, you heard about Angelo Rosetta?"

"Oh yea. Never thought about others, treated his girlfriend like a prize, hated by everyone, made peoples lives a living nightmare"

"Yep, that's him" Ruby was surprised that Angelo's reputation had flooded into the lives of young adults "Charlie say's she wished he was my biological father"

"What?" Issy was shocked "Didn't he use her? make her feel like drag on people's lives?"

"Yes"

"So why would-" Issy's eyes widened "She was raped?" Ruby closed her eyes as two tears fell from her eyes. Nodding, Issy knew she was right "Ruby" Issy placed her arms around Ruby and held her close "I'm so sorry"

"Don't be sorry for me" Ruby rested her chin on Issy's shoulder "I know love and what its like to have a proper family. Charlie doesn't" Ruby pulled away from Issy "Her mum died a year or so before I came along and her dad died less than a year after I was born. Charlie was on her own from fourteen until she met Angelo" Ruby played with her cuticles "Angelo is all she has known for years, he's been her family, her rock her everything and she hated it"

"Was it always like that?" the question was something Issy didn't want to ask, yet she didn't really know Charlie to show her a great deal of sympathy; she felt sorry for her sure, but only a little

"No. Charlie said for the first few years it was alright; she felt loved and appriciated. But that changed when Angelo began taking over the bay; power and money went to his head" Ruby wiped her face "She turned to alcohol to fill the void. She was alone"

"So" Issy wiped her face, surprising herself when she found she had shed a tear for the woman she had never met "What changed? I mean, she doesn't drink now does she?" Issy asked

"No" Ruby shook her head "She doesn't. I guess she spent more time with Bianca, Aprils older sister. And then Brax came into her life" Ruby continued to tell Issy about Charlie and how much she had learnt from her, and how much she wanted to keep seeing her and been a part of her life.

~*~

"Its weird" Brax said as he looked to the sand "This. I practically lived on the beach when I was younger, but I never felt the sand like I have now" Brax placed his hand in her's "come on. home"

"Who's home?" Charlie asked as she looked to Brax "Brax, I can't live in that house"

"Charlie, you said it was your's" Brax stood infront of Charlie "Now its ours. Listen, we can't go back to mine cos mum isn't exactly going to run out of her room, give me a hug and accept you into the family and as for Casey and Heath, I don't know" Brax bit his lip "I did have a place a few miles from here, but I think the bloke sold it to someone. We can make that house our house" Brax pointed to the house as he spoke "You, me and the baby" Brax placed his hand on Charlie's stomach which had formed a neat -but very small- bump "Oh my god" Brax was overcome with happiness "A bump" Brax looked up to Charlie "you were flat last time I felt"

"I know" Charlie smiled "Baby is growing" Charlie wondered how, she could barely stomach eating anything

"I meant what I said Charlie. If the baby is Angelo's, I'll still be its father"

"I know you did" Charlie smiled weakly

"What is it?" Brax asked, seeing the look on Charlie's face

"I just, I keep thinking about Ruby" Charlie's eyes glazed over "How do I tell her I'm pregnant? She asked me if I had any other kids and I said no"

"Charlie. You didn't lie" Brax pointed out "You don't have any other kids. A baby not born yet doesn't count"

"But, I still have to tell her. I can't keep meeting her and not telling her. One day the bump is going to be obvious and I wont be able to hide it any more" Charlie placed her hands on her stomach "I don't want to loose Ruby from my life; but I don't want to have to choose between her and my baby"

"You wont have to. Ruby should know that you can't hold off your life just because of her. I know that sounds awful, but its true. Plenty of women have had their first kid adopted then gone on to have others and keep them"

"But I-"

"No buts Charlie. You can't keep thinking that, becasue you have one good thing in your life, its going to go and be taken away from you" Brax looked around "I'm here, and I'm not leaving. You're having a baby which we are keeping, and Ruby- well, you're getting to know her; that's a good thing"

Charlie nodded "you're right" she exhaled "I just, I've got to stop thinking too much"

"So about the house" Brax questioned

~*~

"Have you picked a date yet?" Liam asked as he shoveled another mouthful of cereal into his mouth

"No" Bianca replied

"Why? Its easy enough. Pick a date next year and bam! sorted" Liam replied

"Its not that easy Liam. I want Charlie to be chief bridesmaid and I want it to be okay for her" Bianca said

"Why for Charlie? I asked you to marry me Bianca, not Charlie" Liam was confused

"Charlie is my best friend, and if I want her at my wedding, then I will have her there. we don't have to get married next year, we can do it the year after or the year after that" Bianca moved from infront of the mirror

"I know she's ya mate Bianca, what I don't get it why you are planning our wedding around her" Liam placed another spoonful of cereal into his mouth

"You'll be wanting Sid as best man I persume"

"Yea" Liam replied

"What if we chose a date that didn't suit him?" Bianca asked

"I can't get mar-" Liam fell for Bianca's trick "I see your point" Liam saw the smile grow on Bianca's face

"Thank you" Bianca was happy she won "I know this is our wedding and its about you and me, but, because I want Charlie involved, it feels like it can be the beginning of a new start for her; seeing something really good happen in her life"

"But, its your wedding" Liam said confused

"Yea, I know. But if Angelo was still alive, do you really think he would let her be bridesmaid and have some attention drawn to her? Have some of your mates dance with her? been sat at a different table to him?" Bianca listed some of what Angelo would have said to Charlie to disuade her from been a bridesmaid, all valid points and all so true

"He held her back didn't he?" Liam came to conclusion he never thought he would

"It a nutshell yes" Bianca replied "I know its hard for you to admit that about him, he was your mate for years afterall, but that doesn't change the fact that he wasn't a nice bloke"

"The whole deal with the fight just, it made it clear to me that Angelo wasn't who I thought he was. He nearly killed Brax and Frankie, those two teenagers got injured and Charlie, his own girlfriend was injured too. He never cared" Liam fiddled with the ring on his index finger "I miss him" Liam broke down in tears, Angelo's death had been so sudden and unexpected, Liam never had change to grieve properly for him "He was a mate, he was there when I needed him; maybe not all the time, but I knew if I knocked on the door he'd be there, ready with the burbon and a couple of glasses. I wanted to be like him ya know. He had a gorgeous girlfriend, a nice house and a business head that seemed to be a winner" Bianca watched as Liam poured his heart out. She felt for her sure, but she herself didn't really miss Angelo: she saw him for the pig he was, not a nice bone in his body yet Liam could see the goodness in him; he did know Angelo the longest "I never saw him in the hospital. What sort of mate am I?"

"You were the best" Bianca had a tear roll down her face "Angelo was so lucky to have you in his life, you were there and you always had his back" Bianca took Liam's hand "You'll never forget him, he's part of history, something you can always look back on"

"In this town I don't think I can remeber him" Liam had to laugh "No one liked him; Leah and Irene had to fight agianst him to keep the diner, alf and Marilyn had to fight to keep the Surf Club" Liam rose to his feet

"I know no one liked him, but that doens't mean you can't think about him or what he meant to you" Bianca walked over to Liam "Maybe we should go see his grave, put something on it, give you some closure" Bianca suggested as Liam turned to face her

"Yea, I might do that" Liam kissed Bianca on the lips

"I'll go grab my coat" Bianca smiled

"No. I, I need to be by myself" Liam said as Bianca stopped where she was, looking to Liam as he grabbed his phone and made his way to the door.

"What was that?" Irene asked as she walked down the stairs

"Liam. He misses Angelo" Bianca replied as she watched Liam vanish from sight

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