As Long As I Have You

[Sazzle]

I'm SO sorry I've not been around for ages! Brilliant updates and loving the story!

Glad that Charlie seems to be getting some courage towards Carla and hope that she continues to move forward and build her relationship with Ruby and of course Brax.

Loving the story and writing. Thanks for sharing!

[callyha]

Thank you so much Danni, Sarah, soph1303, RoRo90, and Sazzle(welcome back ) for the comments! They mean so much and I hope this one is okay for you!

Chapter 40

Ruby left the house with a smile on her face. Even though she had spent most of her time cleaning, she had spent it with Charlie and getting to know her more, and generally hang out with her. The lights from a car illuminated the road so she could cross safely and jump over the wall which led to the beach. She took her shoes off and allowed herself to feel the sand between her toes.

The car which had lit the street up, pulled into the drive of the house where Ruby had just left. Out of the drivers door came Brax, who pulled his trousers up before closing the doors and reaching into the back of the car to grab a bag. His passenger clambered out of the car and also grabbed a bag from the back before walking toward the door where Brax was stood

"You going in then?" Cheryl asked as she passed Brax the bag she was holding

"Charlie?" Brax shouted as he opened the door "I've brought someone to see you" Brax placed the bags down next to the couch and waited for Charlie to emerge in the room

"Who is it?" Charlie asked, looking to her hands as she wiped them on a towel

"See for yourself" Brax smiled

Charlie lifted her head up and looked to Cheryl before looking back to Brax who smiled "Erm, H-h-h-hi" Charlie threw the towel behind her and walked toward Cheryl "I'm Charlie"

"Nice to meet you Charlie" Cheryl smiled "I'm Cheryl"

"I'll go put the kettle on" Brax moved away from the women and entered the kitchen, hoping they would strike up their own topic of conversation

"I would have come to see you earlier its just" Cheryl punched her hand with her fist "I haven't been the best mother in the world, if I'm honest"

"I wouldn't say that" Charlie said as she walked to the couch and sat "Brax is a good bloke, and what I've heard him say about Heath and Casey-"

"That's because he's looked after them" Cheryl pointed to Brax, who had his head down, making the drinks "I've missed so much of my boys lives already, I don't want to miss anything else"

"You wont" Charlie replied as she placed her hand on Cheryl's hand "Its never too late to try and be apart of your kids lives" Charlie spoke from knowing what it was like; even though hers and Cheryls circumstances were vastly different "Brax is making a new life for himself, and its not too far from where you are. You wont be missing much of his life"

"Oi" Brax smirked "quit talking about me" he added as he placed the cups down on the table along with a mixture of biscuits "So, what were you talking about?" Brax asked as he grabbed a biscuit and dunked it in his drink

"I was just saying to Charlie that the house is looking nice" Cheryl said as she grabbed a cup from the table "How long have you been here?"

"Ten years" Charlie replied "Give or take a month"

"What?" Cheryl choked "ten years? And it only looks like this?" Cheryl took another look around

"Well, a lot of stuff has been thrown out because it was tatty" Brax replied "we're modernising"

"Modernising?" Cheryl replied

"Yea" Brax confirmed "Modernising"

"That means I can pay" Cheryl smiled "Its the least I can do Darryl, after everything you have done for me and your brothers"

"Thanks mum" Brax replied before taking a sip of his drink

"No worries son" Cheryl looked to her son "You've brought out the best in him you know" Cheryl said to Charlie "I've always know he was a good lad, but I have noticed the change in him over the last few months"

"How could you? You were in your room all the time" Brax asked as he grabbed a third biscuit

"I have ears Darryl, I can hear" Cheryl replied, rolling her eyes at the comment her son made.

For hours Charlie, Brax and Cheryl spoke of anything they could think of as they enjoyed the company of each other. worries about what awaited Charlie when Carla returned home disappeared. Worries over what Heath and Casey would say when they next saw Brax vanished, and Cheryl, well, she had never smiled and giggled so much since Sean was alive.

~*~

Silence filled the house after hours of chattering. The three cups were still on the table and the plate with the biscuits on was empty. Brax had left earlier to take Cheryl back home so Charlie made a start on tidying the mess away before Brax got back home. She soon found herself drained of any energy she had remaining. Placing the towel she was holding on the unit, Charlie made her way into the front room and sat on the couch, waiting for Brax to return home. She felt he eyes become heavier, but she fought to keep them open; this was her and Brax's first night in the house together, and seh wanted it to be special.

"The nerve of some people!" A voice screeched as the front door opened. Charlie jumped as the voice penetrated her eardrums "They are so rude" Carla looked to the door she had slammed shut, allowing Charlie to sit herself up and sort her top out once more so it didn't cling to her stomach

"Who's rude?" Charlie asked, trying to sound interested

"The people of this repulsive town" Carla replied as she flicked her hair over her shoulder and sat on the chair "I've never known anything like it. My son died three weeks age, and no one is showing any remorse" Carla shook her head "Anyway, enough about these small minded people" Carla looked to Charlie "Where is my room?"

Charlie opened her mouth to speak, but soon closed it again, biting her lip as she thought "Erm-"

"Please tell me it is ensuite. I really can't be doing with a bathroom half a mile away from room" Carla took her high heels off but kept them close to her side

"I don't actually have a room for you with an ensuite" Charlie replied, the only room with the ensuite was the room her and Brax would have

"I'm sorry? but, Angelo told me you did" Carla rose to her feet "I'll have that room"

"Actually, you wont have that room Carla" Charlie replied, rising to her feet "I'll be in that room, and you will have to find somewhere else to sleep"

"I think you'll find I'm the guest in my sons house" Carla bent to pick her things up "so I'll be having that room" Carla made her way to the stairs

"No" Charlie blocked the path "this isn't your sons house, this is my house; if you look at the name on the paper work, it says Charlotte Buckton, which is me" Charlie felt big "so, you either sleep in the smaller room, or go to the caravan park"

"Fine" Carla snapped "show me where it is" Carla glared at Charlie as Charlie turned toward the stairs and headed up.

They walked along the hall and passed the many doors of the upstairs area. Charlie went ahead and closed the door to the master bedroom, as it had Brax's things in which were still needed to be put away. Carla looked down her nose at the wallpaper and the pictures that hung, it wasn't to her taste, and she didn't think it was to Angelo's either; the many references to boxing, fighting and cocktail making had to have been from Charlie.

"This is your room" Charlie said as she opened the door and switched the light on. She looked to the bed which had been freshly made earlier on in the day. She saw a shadow of herself sitting on the edge of the bed, sobbing into her hands. Her hair was wet and the towel she wore had the wet marks on; Charlie remebered that moment, and what had happened before that very moment "I'll see you in the morning" Charlie smiled to Carla, who simply ignored Charlie's gesture and sat herself on the bed. Charlie shook her head as she turned and closed the door behind her, and closing the door to the memory of the shadow she had seen.

~*~

Brax arrived back home to find Charlie asleep on the couch in his t-shirt and a pair of her shorts. He saw that she had cleaned the pots from earlier and the rest of the room too. Smiling to himself as he watched her sleep, Brax walked quietly over to Charlie and pushed the hair from her face, she flinched ever so slightly from the touch of Brax's hand. Gently picking her up, Brax made his way to the stairs and went as quietly as he could, trying not to wake the sleeping beauty or the dragon from their slumber.

Using his foot to opene the door, Brax entered their room and gently placed Charlie on the bed. He stood back and watched her for a moment longer; taking in how he had become so lucky to have her in his life.

"Its rude to stare you know" Charlie smiled as she began to wake

"I can't help it" Brax smiled back "its hard not to"

"How's you mum" Charlie asked as she sat herself up

"She's alright" Brax replied as he removed his shoes and unbuckled his belt "She loves you"

"Really?" Charlie asked

"Yea. dunno why though" Brax teased

"Oi" Charlie threw a pillow at Brax

"Nah, I think she's just, I dunno" Brax took his trousers off "What about Carla. She here?"

"God" Charlie rolled her eyes "I'm seriously going to go insane if she is here any longer than the end of the week. She's a complete nightmare" Brax laughed "Its not funny Brax, I'm worried about it"

"Why are you worried about her been here? She'll be gone soon" Brax replied as she walked over to the bed and sat beside Charlie

"I'm just thinking about the baby" Charlie replied as she placed her hand on her stomach "She gets me so wound up and I can feel my head pounding and it makes me feel sick so I don't eat. It can't be good for the little one" Charlie had a tear roll down her cheek

"I'll have a word with her in the morning" Brax said as he wiped the tear from Charlie's face "I don't want her risking my babys life" Brax placed his hand on top of Charlie's

"Brax" Charlie smiled as she felt Brax's hand on top of hers. She looked deep into Brax's brown eyes and leaned into him a placed a kiss on his lips. Brax responded by kissing her back and the kiss soon turned passionate. Charlie ran her hands up Brax's back, taking his shirt up and over his head before she began kissing him once more. Brax moved his hands down Charlie's back, feeling the curves that were hidden under her top. He lifted her top over her head and returned his lips to hers, slowly pushing her to the bed. Parting from each other to catch their breath, they gazed into each others eyes; coming together for the first time in their new relationship.

[Inactive User]

Awesome chapter Update soon please xx

[soph1303]

Great update,

Glad that Charlie, Brax and Cheryl all got along so well !!

Hehe, glad that Charlie stood up to Carla !! Hopefully she leaves soon !!

Cute ending !!

More soon please

[HighwayUnicorn]

Deleted.

[Sazzle]

LOL! Loved Charlie standing up to Carla in this chapter. You go girl!!

Glad that Brax has moved in as well and was very cool update with Cheryl actually coming out of the house as well...

Hope Brax doesn't get too much stick from his brothers and that he doesn't give the pregnancy away to Carla by being too protective of Charlie.

Really good chapter with loads in... thanks

[RoRo90]

so glad that Cheryl and Charlie got along

go Charlie! about time she started standing her ground with Carla

the ending was so good Charlie and Brax are just meant to be

can't wait for more

[callyha]

Thank you so much guys for the comments! Sarah, soph1303, Carina, Sazzle and RoRo90 Hope you enjoy this one

Chapter 41

Charlie woke up the following morning to an empty bed. Her hand stretched over to Brax's side alerted her to emptyness. Sitting up, she grabbed the top she had on the night before from the floor and put it on before making her way out of the room and down to the front room. She saw Brax stood, holding a tray which had two glasses of juice, four slices of toast, butter and some jam on

"I was going to do breakfast in bed, but seeing you are donw here already" Brax placed the tray on the table "saves me walking up stairs again ey" Brax smiled as he grabbed one of the glasses of juice and took a sip

"Brax" Charlie sat on the couch "you didn't have to do this" Charlie smiled as she took a slice of toast, put some jam on and took a bite

"Yea I did" Brax replied as he grabbed a slice "just, don't expect it every day" he smiled cheekily before biting into the toast "so" Brax looked to Charlie "I was thinking about painting some of the rooms today; sort the bathroom out the spare rooms" Brax drank some more juice "what do ya think?"

"I can't think when she is still here" Charlie shook her head "can we get rid of her first, then sort the house?" Charlie asked, knowing Carla would do everything she could to stall the decortation attempts

"Yea" Brax replied, sadly "but-"

"I suppose breakfast is something I have to get for myself" Carla spoke dryly as she walked down the stairs, placing the back on the dazzling blue earring she had

"I don't know what you like" Charlie replied, bringing her toast to her mouth

"No, I suppose you don't" Carla looked down her nose to Charlie "And what are you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be teaching some poor sap how to ride on one of those ridiculous boards?" Carla looked to Brax, who simply sat up and took another slice of toast

"It's my day off" Brax replied, smiling to Carla as he butted the toast

"And you think that means you can have breakfast in the house of your customers?" Carla replied, grabbing the tray and pulling it toward her "get out of this house; Charlie and I have things to dicuss"

"He can stay Carla" Charlie said as she looked to Carla "I don't mind"

"No" Carla looked around to Charlie "I don't think you do mind. But I do" Carla sat on the chair

"I was planning on telling you this in private, but seeing as though you adimant on him staying here, then I have no choice" Carla settled herself into the chair; each movement she made made Charlie feel more and more on edge "I'm not going back home to my husband just yet-"

"You can't stay here" Charlie blurted out "I mean, I don't think I'll be staying in the Bay for much longer myself" Charlie found herself lying; she couldn't bare the thought of Carla wanting to remain in the Bya so she was close to Angelo

"I don't care what you do or where you go; you obviously don't care about my grieving for my son" Carla looked away from Charlie "but I will need you to take me to the airport; I've decided to use the money Angelo left behind to treat myself to a holiday. Its what he would have wanted" Carla smiled

"Wh-" Charlie began

"Hang on" Brax stopped Charlie from speaking and looked to Carla "The money he left behind is going into the reconstruction of the club that he trashed. Any other moeny is going to the family of the bloke that died"

"Yes; Angelo died, I'm his family" Carla smiled

"No. Angelo wasn't the only one who died in the fight; Angelo died two weeks after the fight, Marcus died on the actual night. His wife and three kids don't have any means of support now"

"Oh boo hoo" Carla mimicked wiping her eyes "Such a sad story there, but like I said; I'm Angelo's mother, I'm his family, I'm getting the money"

"Fine" Charlie threw her hands up "When are you going?" Brax looked into the kitchen as he tried to hid the fact he wanted to laugh

"One week from now" Carla smiled before rising to her feet and walking into the kitchen.

Charlie turned on the couch and faced Brax "I'll be dead by then" Charlie leaned into Brax and rested her head on his chest

"How about we get out of here? go for a walk on the beach or something eh?" Brax suggested

"Sounds good" Charlie smiled

"Where are you two going?" Carla asked as she walked back into the front room and saw Charlie and Brax on their feet

"Surfing lesson" Brax said quickly "I just remembered I had a pretty booked up diary for a while"

"Oh" Carla placed her bowl of yoghurt on the unit "I think I will join you. See what the fasination is with surfing"

~*~

Casey jumped the gate of Ruby's house after leaning his board against the wall. He wiped his hands down his shorts before making sure his hair was presentable. He then outstretched his hand and knocked on the door in his own special way. Smiling as the door opened, casey was glad Ruby answered and not Issy or Dan

"Hey Rubes" Casey smiled as he stood, looking to her

"Hey" Ruby looked behind casey "I thought you were going surfing today?"

"I am" Casey replied

"So, where's your board?" Ruby asked, looking once more behind Casey

"Its against the wall" Casey replied, pointing to the wall where his board was "anyway, I know you don't have a board just yet, but I was wondering if you wanted to come to the beach; I have to get away from the house and I thought the beach would be a good place to go" Casey said, scratching the back of his head as he looked shyly to Ruby

"Yea, sure" Ruby smiled "wait here and I'll grabe some things" Ruby snagged the door shut before running up the stairs to grab a beach towel, money, her phone, some sun block and placed them in a bag. She the quickly changed into a bathing suit before putting her skirt on over the top of her bottoms. She then ran back down the stairs and scribbled a note on the pad for her parents so they wouldn't worry when they returned home "Ready" Ruby smiled as she opened the door

"Cool" Casey replied as he headed back down the path and onto the pavement

"So, why can't you stay at home? Is your mum been weird?" Ruby asked as they began to walk

"No" Casey shook his head "Mums back to what she was like before dad died I guess, I've never seen her like this, so it has to be before I could remember"

"So what is so bad?" Ruby asked, now confused as to why Casey couldn't go back home

"Brax has deserted us" Casey replied

"What?" Ruby couldn't see Brax doing that

"He's moved in with Charlie; but I reckon you already knew that didn't you" Casey looked to Ruby disaprovingly "I have to tell you everything that goes on in my life; why can't you have told me this?" Casey stopped where he was and stared at Ruby

"I only found out yesterday; Charlie and I were having a snack and she told me she was going to do it; she was going to ask Brax to move in with her" Ruby replied, taken aback by Casey's anger

"I wouldn have thought you'd be happy for him"

"Yea? well I'm not. What the hell are we supposed to do now?" Casey asked

"I'm sorry to say this Case, but, maybe you have relied on Brax too much. He has a life to live too you know, he can't keep putting his life on hold for you and Heath"

"Heath can't take care of us" Casey pointed out "And I'm too young"

"Casey, I'm not saying that you have to go out and get a job and pay all the bills" Ruby placed her hand on Casey's shoulder "But, if you're mum has started to change her ways, maybe shes going to take care of you from now on" Ruby removed her hand from Casey's shoulder and tucked her hair behind her ears before looking to the ground "Maybe you should just be happy for Brax; him and Charlie have been mad for each other for ages, and you've told me so many times at school about this mysterious girl that has Brax all goofy like"

"I guess I should be happy for him" Casey replied as he kicked a stone from the path to the road

"I'm just, I'm so used to him been at home. Its gonna be weird" Casey looked to Ruby

"I'm sure you can always go round" Ruby smiled as she linked arms with Casey and began to walk faster "Charlie has already said I'm welcome there anytime"

"How are things with you two anyway?" Casey asked, realising he hadn't bothered to see how things in Ruby's life were going

"Really good" Ruby's smile became larger "I feel like I'm connecting with her, like, I'm re-attatching myself to her"

"Okay, that doesn't make any sense" Casey replied, laughing slightly to himself

"You know how you have a connection with your mum, Heath and Brax?"

"Yea"

"Well, its like mines been rebuillt" Ruby replied

"Yea, I still don't get it" Casey shook his head "sorry"

"Doesn't matter" Ruby shrugged "I know what I mean"

"But things are good?" Casey made sure he knew

"Yea, things are good" Ruby confirmed "I don't think there is anything else Charlie hasn't told me; as it stands, I'm the only child she has"

~*~

Charlie fiddled with the top she had on and she, Brax and Carla walked along the beach; trying to find a spot perfect enough for Carla and the huge sun lounger she made Brax carry from the other side of the beach

"Stop it" Brax said to Charlie as he saw he fiddling with the top, making it taught over her stomach, revealing the neat little bump she had

"I can't help it" Charlie replied as she let her top go and folded her arms over her stomach

"Over here will do fine" Carla ordered as she pointed to the unmarked sand "thank you" Carla said as Brax placed the sun lounger on the sand and took his board off "May I have one of the towels" Carla held her hand out to Charlie as she dug around in the bag for one of the towels

"Thank you" Carla took the towel from Charlie and opened it out onto the lounger; she then removed the shirt she wore over her bathing suit and made it into a pillow. She then removed her shoes and sat herself delicatly down on the lounger and rummaged around in her hand bag for her sunglasses and Ipod.

"You sorted?" Brax asked as he watched Carla

"Yes" Carla replied as she put the earphone in and pushed her glasses to her eyes

"Thank god" Brax smiled as he looked round to Charlie "you ok?"

"Yea" Charlie replied as she took the top she was wearing off and placed it on top of her bag "she's just making me very nervous" Charlie looked over to Carla, who lay basking in the warm sun as her music played out

"At least we know she can't hear us" Brax said to Charlie as he tried to make out what the song was Carla was listening to "wanna go for a swim?" Brax asked as he looked to Charlie, who was busy sorting the straps out on her bikini top

"Put your tongue back in your mouth" Charlie smiled as she hit brax lightly on the arm "and yes, I'll go for a swim"

"Come on then" Brax offered his hand for Charlie to take. As soon as her hand met his, they began to walk toward the water, which soon turned into a jog and then a run "That's cheating" Brax smiled as Charlie stood on the wet sand, looking to Brax who walked the rest of the way

"Well, I wont be able to run like that soon so I have to win now" Charlie smiled as Brax walked closer to her and took her hands in his "don't" Charlie pulled back from Brax as he went to kiss her "she might see"

"I don't care Charlie. I love you and if I want to kiss you, then I will" Brax leaned in closer once more, this time to no resistance from Charlie

"I love you too" Charlie replied after they pulled apart "I'm sorry I'm been like this" Charlie looked into Brax's eyes "its just, I don't feel comfortable enough with her been here to show that I'm with you and that we have a baby on the way. There's only me, you and Bee that knows, and that's not how I want it"

"Hey" Brax placed his hands gently on the either side of Charlie's face "we will tell people together about the baby 'kay? and stuff Carla, she needs to be told that Angelo was a bastard" Brax smiled as he placed a kiss on Charlie's lips "Come on, before the water gets crowded" Brax took Charlie's hand and led her into the water.

[Samantha1]

Aww Charlie and Brax are so cute in this, Carla is so mean though! Great writing, can't wait for the next update (:

[Inactive User]

Awesome chapter Loved it Can't wait to see how everyone reacts to Charlie's pregnancy. I wonder how Ruby is gonna take it that she will not be the only child of Charlie anymore...