Charlie sighed as she looked down at her phone she'd called Brax non stop for the last four days and not even a call or text had she received back. She sighed again when Heath walked through the door "no luck then?" she asked as he walked over to her.

"Nah," he huffed and dropped down beside her "no one has seen or heard from him and he still hasn't shown up at Ricky's."

"Has Casey or Kyle been in touch?" she asked, she was losing hope that he'd ever come back.

Heath sighed and stood up "look Charlz," he said and sat beside her "my brother is the big idiot that ran away, he's the one that screwed it all up, he should be here making sure you're okay but he's not!" he said angrily and jumped off the bed "he's off somewhere hiding like the big girl he is, he couldn't give a damn about you or Alex so why do you care?" he asked. "I told you you were too good for him, I told you to steer clear of him and I told him he'd mess this up which he did and I told him would kill him so he better not come back!"

Charlie sat there looking back at him in shock, seeing her face he sighed and walked to her "I'm sorry, I'm just so mad that he ra-"

"No," Charlie cut in and looked up at him "you're right, he doesn't give a damn why should I?"

"Hey, I'm just mad," he said and wrapped his arm around her "don't be minding what I say."

Charlie rested her head on his shoulder "he obviously doesn't care about me at all so what's the point in trying to find him?" she asked and tilted her head "can you go find Sid please?" she asked and sat up "I wanna know when I can go home."

Heath stood up "I'll go but I think you're gonna get the same answer as yesterday," he chuckled "you only had an operation three days ago," he added.

"So?" she shrugged "I'm fine the pain is almost gone, I can walk on my own, I can stand up on my own so I don't see the need for me to be here."

Heath chuckled "tell it to the judge," he said and stepped back as Sid walked in.

Sid chuckled and looked down at her file "no, you cant go home today…pain since this morning?" he asked.

"Bearable," she muttered "I haven't had pain since this morning and I've been walking about and moving around like you told me to."

Sid nodded and scribbled down notes "Heath can take you around the grounds again if you want…I'll check in later," he said and walked off.

Heath smiled and Charlie laughed "we're not racing in wheelchairs again that nurse wasn't impressed yesterday."

As she laughed her phone beeped with a message, looking down on it she stopped and snatched up the phone "what is it?" Heath asked.

Charlie started at the message for a few seconds before looking over at him "just Bianca with her daily check in…we wheeling or what?" she asked and sent a quick reply before flinging the phone on the bed "need to pee first," she added and walked into the bathroom.

While she was gone Heath tilted his head to read the message scoffing when Brax appeared on the screen all he had to say for himself was 'I'm sorry' and that's it? Looking at Charlie's reply he smiled- dropping it quickly as she walked back out "ready?" he asked and grabbed a wheelchair.

….

Somewhere not far away Brax sat on the rooftop looking out at the beach, looking down at his phone as it beeped he sighed heavily and picked it up 'be at the hospital by nine tonight or we're done for good, I will never speak to you again' was her reply.

Sighing again he slammed his hand on the wall, getting himself together he replied 'how can I when I'm the reason you're there?' standing up he started to pace waiting for her reply. Five minutes later no reply had come, closing his eyes he dropped onto the wall he had screws up big time and had no idea how to fix it.

Seeing a bottle on the ground that he'd started earlier he picked it up and took a large gulp. Suddenly it was ripped from his hand sending it spilling down his front "what the hell!" he yelled angrily and jumped up. Wiping himself down he looked up ready to yell again but stopped at the unknown person looking back at him "who are you?" he asked "and what the hell do you want?"

"You think this is gonna make it better?" he asked and sat on the wall.

"Mate, you have no idea what I'm going through so why don't you beat it," he huffed and dropped down beside him.

Sighing heavily he turned his body to face Brax "I'm gonna say this once and once only so listen up," he said and put the bottle down. "My daughter took your daughter in no questions asked, she looked after her while you took off, she helped you get back on your feet when you finally did come back. I remember her talking about you and how much she wanted you behind bars, what's changed I'll never know…she's fallen in love with you and although she might act like it's not bothering her I know by just looking at her that her heart is breaking," he said and stood up.

"If there's one thing I know about Charlie it's you don't get a second chance, I know this mess and why she's in hospital is because of what mess you're in. She doesn't blame you," he said and walked towards the door "the clock is on, once that timer goes off you can kiss whatever you have with my daughter goodbye, there'll be no second chances…trust me, I know," he said and slipped out the door.

Brax sat there looking after him "she's in love with me?" he asked out loud "she's in love with me?" he asked again. Shaking his head he stood up he was such an idiot.

Back at the hospital Charlie looked towards the door and smiled as her brothers walked in "hey guys."

"Hello little sis," Peter chuckled and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Why do you two look so smug?" she asked narrowing her eyes at them.

"Because," Jack chuckled and let out a little laugh.

"Because?" she asked prompting him to finish.

Peter chuckled and leaned closer to her "we have some news for you."

"I can go home?" she asked hopeful.

"No," Jack replied "you can go home Friday like Sid already told you."

Charlie huffed "it's only Monday…what's this news?"

Peter and Jack looked at one another "we caught her," Peter said.

"Ricky?" Charlie asked "wow," she said as they nodded "how? Where? When?"

Jack chuckled "that's the million dollar question."

"Which one?" Charlie asked and smacked him "just tell me already."

Peter chuckled "she was pulled over in Reefton lakes for a broken taillight, the guy recognized her face from the posters we sent around and brought her in. He called us we collected her and now she's awaiting a bail hearing in a nice comfy cell."

Jack chuckled "idiot still had the gun on her," he said and stood up "anyway, I'm beat, I'll stop by tomorrow," he said and kissed her on the cheek "I'm going home to a well deserved drink and an early night."

Peer yawned and stood up "that sounds so appealing I think I'll do the same," he said and hugged her "call me if you want anything, I'll be back tomorrow."

"Thanks guys!" she called after them, once they were gone she picked up her phone to call Heath with the good news. She sighed when it went to mail "hey, it's me," she started "just calling to let you know they've caught up with Ricky, you're probably asleep already coz you're bored without me," she giggled "anyway, just wanted you to know and to say thank you for spending so much time with me so call me back when you get this...or just come break me out, either is fine with me…bye," she said and hung up.

Lying back she sighed, why can't life be easy? When she'd come round after her operation both her mum and dad where there she groaned and asked to be put back asleep. She thought it was because they were there but it dawned on her it was really because of who wasn't there. Although she'd never admit it to anyone she missed Brax so much, she knew her feelings ran deep for him and before this had happened she would have been fine with that. She didn't think she'd reached the big L stage yet but in his absences she realised she had, she loved him, she was in love with him…and he had gone and ripped it all away from her. Sniffing thinking about him she let out a little whimper loving someone that doesn't love you back is beyond the worst feeling in the world, closing her eyes she let the tears fall-snapping her eyes open when someone wiped them away.

….

Before she could yell at him or whatever came to her brain first Brax cupped her face and kissed her hard. Reaching out to push him away she slid her hand around his neck and pulled him closer, after the kiss got heated he pulled back and looked down on her "I'm an idiot, I'm a moron, I'm an asshole, I'm the thickest person on this planet. I shouldn't have took off I am so so sorry babe," he said and kissed her face all over. "I was so scared that you'd died and when I found out it was Ricky I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe you were here because of me so I did what I do best and took off. I have no idea how to sort this out without losing you forever….I love you," he said looking her in the eye.

Charlie opened and closed her mouth a few times she wasn't sure if it was the shock of him actually turning up or if it was because he'd said he loves her. Going with the second one she looked up at him "you love me?" she whispered.

Brax smiled and slid his hand onto her face "yes, I love you, I love everything about you, I love your eyes," he said pushing some hair out of her face "your smile," he said running his thumb across her bottom lip "and most of all I love this," he said laying his hand across her chest. "You have the biggest heart, you go out of your way for everyone and anyone, after all the grief I gave you you still took on Alex and you gave me a chance even with our history."

Moving closer to her he sat beside her "if we can put this behind us and start again I promise you here and now I will never walk away from you again-dumbest move I ever made by the way," he said and laced his fingers with hers "I'm always gonna be here showing you how much I love you, how much you mean to me, the last few days are the hardest I've ever had to go through and that was all because of you. I missed you so so much you were on my mind the second I woke up until I went to sleep again, you've changed me for the better Charlie and for that I owe you everything, you've given me a reason to get up in the mornings," he said and tilted her face over to him "I love you with all my heart and I never plan on stopping."

Charlie gave a watery smile as her eyes watered "Brax you're an idiot," she giggled through tears and shoved him away. Wiping her eyes she looked up at him "all of that makes my stay away from me speech sound like crap."

Brax sat back beside her "you didn't think I was gonna turn up?"

Charlie looked down at her hands "I didn't think you were gonna come back."

Brax tugged her to him "I came back for you," he said and pulled her closer "I could never stay away from you…sooo," he drawled "are we starting again?" he asked nervously.

Charlie tilted her head and looked up at him "on one condition."

Brax nodded "anything you want."

Charlie sat up a bit closer to him "you promise I'll never sleep alone again?" she asked.

Brax smiled and nodded "starting right now I promise you'll never sleep alone ago, I will never spend one night away from you," he said pulling her into a hug.

Charlie pulled back "good, because I've kinda missed you," she said and kissed him slowly. Pulling back she moved to his ear "I love you too," she whispered and kissed him again.

After another heavy make out session Brax made her lie down and lay down beside "do you wanna fill me in on what happened?" he asked cautiously.

Charlie shook her head against him "no point bringing it up again, its over and done with," she said pulling him closer.

Brax wrapped his arm around her tighter and sighed, he could feel her heartbeat getting faster "okay," he said and kissed her head "we don't need to talk about it."

Charlie closed her eyes as they fell into silence "…I thought I was gonna die with you hating me," she said quietly.

Brax's eyes went wide "what?" he asked and sat up quickly "why would I hate you?"

Charlie sat up and looked away "because I wasn't sure if Ruby had gotten away with Alex, I wasn't sure if there were guys outside waiting. I lay there praying she had gotten away and if I did die you'd know I did everything I could to keep her safe."

Brax sighed heavily "babe," he said scooting closer to her "you took two bullets protecting your daughter and my daughter, Alex is not blood, you could have just handed her over and that would have been that but you didn't," he said tugging her so she'd look at him. "You're a hero Charlie, you're my hero," he said and kissed her sweetly. "I could never hate you-never," he said and kissed her again.

Charlie pulled back "I love Alex, I'd never let anyone hurt her…even if they are psychotic and are waving a gun," she giggled.

Brax chuckled and pulled her to lie down "just wait till I get my hands on her."

"No need," Charlie yawned "she's down the station."

"She handed herself in?" Brax asked.

"No," Charlie scoffed "she got pulled over for a broken taillight, the officer recognized her and brought her in, he called Pete and they went and collected her and now she's in Yabbie creek," she yawned.

Brax wanted to ask a hundred more questions but decided not to, laying back fully he pulled her closer and pulled the blanket up over her "get some sleep babe," he said and kissed her on the head.

"Love you," she yawned and snuggled into him.

Brax looked down on her and smiled "love you more," he replied and closed his eyes.

….

The next morning Charlie woke up alone, sitting up she looked beside her and frowned, looking to where Brax had thrown his coat to find it empty she frowned again. Was she that medicated last night that shed dreamt the whole thing? Pulling her shirt up to her nose she frowned again when all she could smell was him. Pulling her hands away she sighed heavily she was so confused now.

She looked up when her door opened and smiled when he walked in "hey," she said happily.

"Hey baby," he smiled and kissed her sweetly "how ya feeling?" he asked handing her over a coffee.

Charlie took it from him "never been better," she said and sat back against her pillow "hey, weird question for ya," she said and looked over at him "you and Alex move in with me and Ruby?"

Brax smiled and leaned forward "that's funny," he said reaching into his pocket "I was just thinking the same thing." Pulling his hand out he placed a box on the bed followed by a small wrapper "what do ya say babe?" he asked looking down at the two "do we take the normal next step?" he asked unwrapping a key "or," he said moving to the box "do we skip all that and just make it permanent?" he asked and opened the box.

Charlie gasped and looked down at the box" is this for real?" she asked and picked it up "really Brax is this real?"

Brax chuckled and took it from her "yeah, it's real," he said and turned it to face him "you know I never thought I'd be doing this," he said and looked up at her "but you make it so easy, I love you so much…. marry me?" he asked.

Charlie nodded as tears slid down her cheek, holding out her hand she giggled as he slid it on "Brax you're an-"

"Idiot I know," he chuckled and kissed her.

Charlie pulled back "so you're moving in with Alex?"

Brax nodded "as soon as you're back on your feet we are."

Charlie lay back and leaned into him "we better keep this to ourselves until everyone knows we've sorted it out."

Brax nodded and took her hand turning the diamond around her kissed her hand "done," he said and pulled her into him "not that I care what the say anyway, you're marrying me and that's all that matters."

"You're just lucky I love you so much, not a lot of people-actually no one has gotten a second chance with me," she giggled.

Brax chuckled and looked over towards the door, seeing her dad watching them pulling her closer he looked down on her and smiled "I won't need another chance, I'm not gonna mess this one up. Looking back to the door her found her dad gone, sighing happily he lay back with her if it weren't for that man he probably wouldn't have come today-he owed him everything and now his everything was in his arms where she belonged.

A/N Short one again I know…sorry this laptop is on its last legs, takes about an hour to turn on, anyway that was the last chapter hope you've enjoyed it and thank you all for reading reviewing and favouring….see ya soon JJ