Woah! Long time no Chapter huh?

Apologies my lovely readers, I have been incredibly busy with exams etc, but thank you so much for all of your support! I hope this makes up for my lack of writing lately!

Enjoy :D x

Chapter 12-Close your eyes.

10AM

Heath whistled as he wondered through the house, his feet instantly coming to a stop almost instinctively at the fridge. He ducked his head inside, pulling out a half eaten pizza left over from yesterday evening when he bundled the girls on the sofa and allowed them to make him watch Rom-coms such as Friends With Benefits, not that he was complaining, Mila Kunis was a sight he reveled in and Charlie's increasing pregnancy hormones meant they had the biggest stacks of food laid out in front of them including every flavour of Ben and Jerry's ice cream you could ever set your eyes upon.

He came to a halt as he turned around and went to walk to the couch, his feet suddenly stopping as the front door clicked open and Brax walked in, slinking his rucksack off of his shoulder and chucking his keys to the coffee table which was still covered in remnants of pop corn from yesterdays movie night. Heath looked at Bra wide eyed as he said nothing but merely nodded politely and walked towards the fridge himself to grab a beer.

Heath stepped into Brax's way as his brother approached him, his hands folded across his chest and his muscles bulging underneath his ribbed vest. He creased his eyebrows as Brax said nothing but merely avoided looking at him. Deciding to not beat around the bush any longer Heath grabbed a fist of Brax's shirt and collided his hand swiftly into Brax's face, ignoring his brothers hand cradling his nose after Heath's retreat. "What the hell!" Bax yelled, wiping his hand past his nose and trying to ignore the blood on his knuckles that drained down from his nose.

"So you decided to rack up did you?" Heath shouted, his arms outstretched either side of him as he raised his eyebrows expectantly at Brax who shook his head in return.

"I don't have to explain myself to you mate." Brax replied smartly, walking past Heath towards the sink, only to be stopped by Heath's hand pushing him back against his chest until they were face to face.

"You do when you leave Charlie, pregnant, on her own here, with me. So yeah, you do need to explain yourself to me mate." Heath spat through gritted teeth, the frown on his face deepened as Brax failed to reply to his cocky remark.

"Where's Charlie?" Brax asked, looking at Heath expectantly

"Ruby and Bianca dragged her up to the city for the day." Heath replied coldly, his face gaining no expression as he looked at the brother he could barely recognize any longer.

"They what?" Brax asked again; Heath scoffed and walked past him, making sure his shoulder crashed into Brax's on his way past.

"Heath don't just walk out."

Heath stopped and turned as he reached the door and turned back to his brother, a hard stare set firmly upon his face as his jaw clenched under Brax's gaze. "Why not? That's what you did." He quipped smartly, his hand reaching towards the door handle.

"HEATH!" Brax yelled as Heath turned the handle, only to be shocked as Heath let the door go and slammed the wall in front of him instead, his hand denting the plaster board as he turned back to Brax, his nostrils flared and his eyes piercing onto him.

"No, you don't get to lecture me. You left her. And you left the rest of us to pick up the pieces." Heath yelled, shoving his finger out and pointing it at Brax sternly.

Brax pinched the bridge of his nose before clasping his hands together behind his head. "I needed some time out-"

"News Flash Brax, you don't get time out when your pregnant ex girlfriend has a hit man out for her!" Heath boomed, his breathing heavy as he tried to control his anger towards his older brother. He stepped back to try and restrain himself from punching him again. "You suck it up and you stick with her." Heath said calmly as he turned back towards the front door.

"I'm sorry." Brax called, tilting his eyes up as Heath nodded and gritted his teeth together.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to." Heath replied simply before leaving the house and letting the door slam in the wind.

4 HOURS LATER

CHARLIE POV

I laughed as Ruby cracked another joke as we walked up to the house in the afternoon sun from our shopping trip, Bianca rooting through her bag for her key before she triumphantly found it in her handbag and shuffled it through the lock. I smiled gratefully as Rubes took my bags from me, not wanting me to carry anything to heavy for too long, quite frankly I was happy for the break, I could feel my arms slowly getting weaker and weaker even though there was only light weight clothing and cute baby grows in the bags. I sighed as we walked in before beginning to walk over to the sofa, however I instantly stopped as a figure appeared from the kitchen

"Brax" I murmured, my lungs constricting at the sight of him; I let out a long breath I hadn't known I'd been holding, I chocked on my words as he stood before me, and harbored mixed feelings towards him, concealing them tightly as my poker face again regained its expressionless and empty look. I knew he was watching me intently as my eyes darted around the room trying to look anywhere but him. I knew he could see the lone tear making its way down her cheek, and he walked forwards, wanting to catch it, but out of instinct I stepped back, rather stumbled back. My lips trembled as I went to speak but found myself lost for words. Silence filled the air as neither of us moved nor spoke, Bianca cleared her throat slightly, but still neither of us were hurtled back to reality, the tension was inescapable and toxic.

I felt my heart clench and tighten as Brax's eyes welled and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Part of my body longer to run up to him, and part of me felt no pity for him.I found the battle between my inner demons overwhelming me, and his eyes pierced through me like a dagger in my chest. I couldn't stand there in the same room as him, watching him wallow in pity because of his own mistakes, and my body moved in autopilot as I grabbed Ruby's car keys from the lamp side table by the door and ran out of the room. No sooner was I out of the door than his voice echoed behind me and his feet padded after me. "Charlie, Charlie wait!" I felt the little air I had left escape my lungs and choke me. The look on his face as I turned to face him by the car was one I hated with undying passion, and there it was staring right back at me and making my cheeks burn in anger towards him.

Turning back to the car I forced my shaking hand onto the door handle, only to flinch as Brax slammed the car door back closed and his hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to him and wrenched my arm away from him, "Get off me!" I spat through gritted teeth, trying not to let my eyes spill the tears that so badly wanted to escape. I pulled back again as Brax reached forwards one last time, "GET OFF!" I screeched. My bottom lip trembling as he looked at me, my heart splitting in two paths. I didn't recognize that look from him, he looked broken, he looked just as lost as I was. His eyes pleaded with me to hear him out but my head couldn't handle him. The sight of him back in front of me made my breath hitch but it also brought a raw anger rippling to the surface of my skin, urging me to run from him. "You left Brax- things got tough and you left." I whispered croakily, my voice hiccupping as a lone tear left my cheeks.

I creased my eyebrows as he spoke, his voice thick and rugged, he croaked on his words. He sounded like he was going to break. "To clear my head-"

"To make yourself feel better." I corrected. Ignoring the throbbing of my heart when a lone tear made a pathway down his cheek. It paralysed me seeing him broken, it was our emotions in their rawest and form that stripped me of feeling attached to him. I inhaled sharply a few minutes later as he said nothing but stood twisting the ring on his finger in agitation "We've spent 6 months apart and yet you still up and leave when things get tough!" I yelled, raising my eyebrows at him to urge on a response.

"Charlie you have to understand how hard this is for m-"

I laughed and cut him off, "You still don't get it do you!" I stammered in disbelief, shaking my head at him and trying to ignore the pained expression on his face that I was sure mirrored mine. "We both spent 6 months apart from each other Brax not just you! So don't try and tell me that I don't know how you feel!"

He nodded slowly before bringing his eyes up to meet mine, the sadness in them an overwhelming haunting photograph of pain. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head at him and wiped the tears on my cheeks with the back of my hand. "You left me here on my own, and apparently I'm just supposed to deal with that." I choked "What does that say about the way you see me?" I said, my voice quivering. I averted his gaze as he spoke;

"Charlie I didn't mean to make you feel-"

"Alone, scared?" I interrupted "I'm in a town where every good part of my life once was- including you. And now I wish I'd left it that way." I murmured, clicking open the car door and sliding in.

"Charlie you don't mean that." Brax whispered, his hands leaning on the roof of the car, I shook my head and closed the car door, pulling the seatbelt over my stomach and trying to avert his desperate gaze. I clicked the car door locks shut as Brax went to open the door, ignoring the hurt and desperate look on his face, willing me to get back out of the car.

"I don't want to hurt you anymore Brax so please just go away." I said tiringly.

"No. Charlie you can't do this on your own."

"I can. I've done it for 6 months I can do it again." I winced and closed my eyes briefly at my words as I heard his sharp intake of breath, and I knew my words had hurt him, but I refused my hearts pleads to turn back to face him. He held his hand on the door handle, starting the ignition took more strength than he ever thought he had, it took more strength than the past 6 months had needed, I couldn't ignore the dull ache throbbing in my chest at the pain of living another day without him.

"I'll be back later." I whispered, glancing up to his sad eyes before pulling out of the driveway.

2 HOURS LATER

REEFTON LAKES

3RD PERSON POV

Dragging her heavy head along the lake front Charlie let out a deep sigh as she let the warm breeze in the heat of the day greet her she placed herself down upon the huge log that lay near the crystal blue waters edge. Charlie ignored the stinging in her eyes as they watered beneath the strain of attempting not to cry. She felt so lost without Brax. Her eyes met the calmness of the water but it failed to bring any sort of comfort to her. Either she'd lost the one thing that could find her comfort or she had become so lost she couldn't possibly be found anymore by the serenity of the water. She tried and failed miserably to get Brax's image out of her mind. His eyes were the eyes she remembered but something seemed different about them, they burned on her with deep longing and desire when she had seen him and they ripped her soul to shreds. She couldn't figure out why she had brought herself here and she couldn't figure out what made her feel like this place wherever it was would give her answers but part of her mind was treating it as an involuntary convulsion of remembrance. She remembered being broken here once, she couldn't remember what from. And now she was here again and unbeknownst to her mind she was here for the same reason. Brax.

Examining the calm lake she begged and longed for it to bring her comfort but she was met by an overwhelming feeling of loss, the one place she swore could accept her demons and grace her presence failed to acknowledge her. She knew all she wanted was for Brax to tell her he loved her and that he needed her. In her head she knew that was wrong and that she shouldn't allow him her minds thoughts. But in her heart she knew she couldn't live without him. She couldn't live with his absence in her life and she couldn't bare the thought of him beginning to live a life without her in it. She knew them being apart was wrong. She just wasn't sure whether she could trust her heart. Charlie's cupped her cheeks and let a tear brush down her cheek as she felt that familiar warm and comforting breeze brush past her skin leaving a lingering feeling of comfort on it.

Charlie's head jolted round as she heard a faint snap of a twig behind her, jumping off of the log she let out a deep sigh of relief as she saw it was only Brax.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed, not knowing how he could've possibly found her. She folded her arms protectively across her chest. She glanced up and down his body, her eyes taking him in as he walked towards her and sat down on the log she had been sitting on.

"I could ask you the same question." He shrugged, his eyes lingering against hers, and as they did he could see she was as consumed in pain and hurt as he was. He could see their situation was tearing her apart and the pain in her eyes was something he swore he would never cause again and as he looked at her he felt his body shiver with regret and tremor with a pain that made his nerve ends twinge with guilt.

"Thinking." Charlie replied shortly, looking back out into the ocean. "Some crazy force told me to come here and I did…and now I'm here, I have no idea why." She said softly, a lone tear tracking down her cheeks as she tore her gaze from the water and looked at Brax whose eyes looked on at her knowingly.

Seeing the confusion on her face Brax sighed and swept his hands over his jeans, swiping at the imaginary dust that settled on them "You used to come here sometimes." He said softly, watching as she frowned at him and dropped her arms from her chest. She'd let down her protective guard and he instantly felt his hands cease to sweat as much as they were with their previous nervousness.

"I did?" Charlie asked, eyeing him for a second before she bit her lip and nodded her head sadly, "With you." She whispered, recognizing the look in his eyes and registering the slight nodding of his head.

"Did we have a good time here?" she asked timidly, holding her hand up to her lips in a bid to try and stop the scream that wanted to erupt in her throat in a mixture of agony of the memories she failed to keep in her mind and the pain her heart felt in his presence. Charlie felt her eyes tear up as Brax nodded once more but refused to make eye contact with her. They were breaking each other down and wearing their hearts out but they both knew they had to drop down the barriers they'd made across them. They had to let each other in somehow and neither of them could take blaming each other anymore. They were both sick of living without each other.

"I'm sorry." Charlie said in haughty whisper, her voice cracking under the strain her tightened chest was under.

Brax frowned and creased his eyebrows at her, "For what?" he asked softly, slowly standing to his feet and outstretching his hands to take hers that were holding their own over her opposite shoulders. Taking them in his he clasped them tightly, tugging her gently towards him he tilted his head to the side to catch her gaze before lifting her chin wit the pad of his thumb. "Hey, hey Charlie, you don't need to cry." He whispered, looking at her expectantly, and hoping for a nod of agreement. He swallowed the lump in his throat as she shook her head and let out a gasp of air in pain. Pulling her towards him he slowly wrapped his arms around her, encasing her in his warmth as she melted in his arms, her tears dampening his cotton shirt and seeping into his skin.

"I want to remember, I want to remember everything so bad but I-" her voice choked as she spoke and she pulled away from Brax, her eyes closing briefly as she tried to retain a normal breathing pattern. "Every time I try to think I get nothing." She whispered softly, pressing her forehead against his shoulder and chuckling as he laughed softly at her comment.

"You brought that upon yourself." Brax murmured in her ear with a slight chuckle. He grinned as he felt Charlie's hands hit his shoulder blades playfully as she snuggled into him more.

"I know what we had was special and I- I just want to remember." Charlie murmured against Brax's shoulder, her body relaxing more against him as his hands rubbed up and down her back soothingly.

"Is there anything you do remember?" Brax asked gently, his lips gently kissing her hairline as he closed his eyes and begged for a small recognition on her behalf of what they once had.

She swallowed and pulled back, nodding her head shakily. Her eyelashes were wet from her tears and her cheeks her pink from the crying but Brax could still see every inch of her as beautiful, he looked at her in that moment and saw the photograph of an epitome of beauty. "I remember you telling me that…that you loved me." She said shyly, her eyes averting his, although she knew he had closed his eyes in agony of that memory and she heard the breath that he had sucked in harshly to his lungs. "And I remember telling you the same thing." She choked out, raising her head to meet his and dipping it round to catch his gaze which was glazed with tears and bound towards the lake "I'm sorry-" she whispered as he looked at her painfully. His eyes bearing that of a man overcome with grief for a love he longed to get back.

Brax shook his head and dropped his hands to her waist, holding her small hand in his own. "Hey it's ok…you remember the most important thing."

Charlie nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. She was staring at the man she would always love and she knew that. "All I know is that no one ever made me feel the way you made me feel." She knew her words held truth to them, she knew they were weighted by the look on his face and the relief she felt at telling him that.

Brax shot his eyes up to her at her admission his heart constricting so tight that it hurt him to breath "I reckon that works both ways aye?" he whispered, bringing his hand up to her cheek and slowly wiping the tear away that lingered painfully on her cheek.

"How'd you know I'd be here?" Charlie whispered, raising her hand up to his lower arm as his hand still lingered on her cheek. She saw his muscles tense under her touch for a split second before he relaxed completely.

Brax dropped his hand from her cheek to her waist, pulling her body towards his own, their bump pressed snugly but safely between them. "You always used to come out here when things were getting tough, you'd used to sit here and think." He chuckled at his own thoughts as he thought back to the time her and Bianca had come here and he and Heath had followed them, much to Charlie's anger. "I didn't know what was going on in that head of yours but it seemed to work." He chuckled, his eyes brightening as a smile lit up on her face and she rolled her eyes at his cheeky comment.

"Did you come out here with me?" Charlie asked, holding her arms up around his shoulder blades and settling comfortably in his arms, content in his grasp.

"Sometimes."

Charlie nodded and bit her lip, she had remembered something, and by coming here she knew it meant something to her, to them. And she realized it brought her comfort because she'd shared it with Brax. It was their place, the place where the memories she couldn't yet remember laid waiting for her to discover them. Charlie frowned as Brax broke away from her and took his shirt off over his head. "Brax what are you doing?" Charlie asked, stepping away from him.

Brax chuckled and shook his head, holding his hand out to her and waiting for her to put it in his. "What's your favourite movie?" he asked, smiling as Charlie creased her brow, looking even more confused.

"What's that got to do with you taking your shirt off?" she asked, looking at his still outstretched hand and timidly placing her own in his.

"When you watch your favourite movie, you wish you could watch it over and over again, just so that you could experience it each time without knowing what would happen."

"Right…" Charlie said slowly, not getting where he was going with this.

"So in a sense, you would be re living it." he concluded, chuckling at the confused look on her face. "We made a deal."

"We did?" Charlie questioned in surprise.

Brax nodded "Every time we came up here together, we would go swimming together in that lake." He said truthfully, pointing towards the lake before looking back to her.

"And why would we do that?" Charlie asked hesitantly.

Brax chuckled and took a step towards her, "Because number one: you can experience it again and number 2: we were told the water gave good luck and you being the sentimental person you are-"

"Decided we had to go in it." Charlie broke him off, speaking knowingly, rolling her eyes as Brax chuckled on the unsure look on her face.

"Come on." He said, tugging her towards him.

"Brax-" Charlie whispered, looking towards the lake and sighing, she looked back at him before shaking her head and laughing, burying her head into the crook of his neck, trying to ignore the longing to go out there with him.

"I have blankets in the car to dry us off." He whispered sneakily, laughing as she giggled, her warm breath tickling down his neck.

"Brax I don't know-" Charlie whispered, trying not to let a smile settle on her face as Brax's hands dropped to the small of her back and slowly massaged it, as if he instinctively knew she had a small ache down her back. She sucked in a breath at the feeling of his hands like that on her skin before smiling gently and relaxing against his body.

"It sounds crazy but it might jog your memory." Brax encouraged, smiling as she rolled her eyes at him, "And this was your crazy idea to do this, every time we came out here." He said. Charlie sighed before reluctantly looking around them to make sure they were alone before pulling her fuchsia summer dress up over her head. Brax swallowed slightly as he instantly fought to resist the urge to step into her arms and kiss her. She looked gorgeous; her skin was glowing, her deep tan glistening in the sunlight. She blushed under his gaze her cheeks turning crimson in colour as my eyes once again got lost in her figure again.

"Is this just an excuse to get me in my underwear." Charlie raised her eyebrows at him, noticing him looking at her up and down in nothing but her skimpy lace underwear.

"I'd never take advantage like that." Brax said, holding his hands up and jumping back as Charlie went to swat his chest playfully.

"Of course not." She drooled sarcastically.

Brax scoffed and pulled her towards him, his skin instantly erupting into goose bumps underneath her bodies touch. "I don't know what you're implying Miss. Buckton, but I'm a man of many morals." Brax whispered huskily in her ear.

"Is that right Mr. Braxton?" Charlie said back, raising her eyebrows.

"Of course it is." Brax said cheekily before quickly scooping her up into his arms and carrying her towards the water.

"Brax put me down!" Charlie squealed, hitting his chest as she giggled in his arms. "What are you doing!" She screamed, splashing him as he put her down gently into the water. She laughed and squealed as she waded away from him whilst he chased her, determined to splash her back "Brax!" she laughed as he held her from behind, holding her back gently against his body, "Stop you're tickling me!"

"What was that?" Brax asked, pretending not to hear her as she laughed in his arms.

"Brax!" Charlie gasped, her laughter failing to cease as his hands tickled down her body. "This is not funny!" She yelled, still laughing.

"You laughing says otherwise." Brax replied sneakily, both of them enjoying each others company, and just loving being able to be themselves around each other.

30 MINUTES LATER

"You ok?" Brax asked as they waded out from the water.

"I'm freezing." Charlie chattered through her teeth, raising her eyebrows as Brax seemed unfazed by the cold air, she smiled gratefully as he ran off to the car, coming back within the minute and giving her all but one blanket, the last one he used to wrap around himself. His head shot up as she spoke her next words, "My hands are so cold!" she whispered, clasping them together near to her lips, he recognized those words on countless occasions when they had gone swimming before, she may not remember ever saying it but he did. He stepped towards her softly before taking her hands in his like he used she flinched slightly at his touch before relaxing at his warmth and staring down at their hands for a minute, her thumb gently stroking his. He closed his eyes at her touch, savouring it for a second before bringing her hands to his lips and kissing them softly, instantly warming them at his soft touch. She looked up at him and he could already see the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. It was in that moment Brax realized what had been holding him back; he was scared of falling for her ten times over again only to have her ripped away from his arms. But in that moment when she looked into his eyes, he knew the pain of letting their past go, was only a shadow when he thought about not being able to be with her again for the rest of his life.

"You used to say that." Brax whispered softly.

"You remember everything I said?" she whispered softly, playing with the hem on his board shorts, not wanting to go back to talking about their time apart.

"It used to help me realize that you weren't just a dream or something…it reminded me of what we had." He said softly, his eyes gazing down at her and waiting for her to reply.

She held her eyes up to his at his words, feeling them water instantly, no matter how hard she tried to restrain herself it was like when she was around him, the little strength she had would seep out of her skin like water from a sponge. She tilted her head downwards, in a bid to avoid his eyes burning through her any longer. She stilled as she felt Brax's arms rest on her hips softly, inviting her into his embrace. Her tears seemed to reside at his comforting touch and a small smile rose on her lips as she felt the baby kicking at Brax's hands on her stomach. She felt slightly scared of the touch she knew so well but more at peace than she'd ever felt in the past 6 months. She leant into his chest, her head resting against his collarbone as the water droplets between them evaporated in the heated shield of the blankets. Charlie sucked in a deep breath as Brax dipped his head slightly to her neck, his hand softly brushing her hair to one side as he planted a string of soft kisses up her neck. Her body felt on fire but goose bumps rose on her skin at his feathery touch and her head rolled to one side, responding to her need for him. She relished the feeling of his hands on her body as he kissed her neck softly, her hands reached up to entangle themselves in his short damp hair.

"Brax stop…" Charlie moaned half heartedly, her body simply responding to the opposite way her head was trying to tell her as her hands dropped to her neck timidly, her fingers running along his skin making him shiver with the intensity of a thousand memories coming back to him, they felt powerless against each other, too weak to stop, their bodies being familiar but new territory to each other. Charlie drew in a deep breath and resisted the urge to moan as his lips sucked against his skin, she dipped her head so it was in the way of his path, instantly regretting the small movement as his lips brushed passed hers, his breathing shallow and hot on her skin, sending ripples of heat wavering throughout her body. He smiled at her, his dimples on display as she slowly brought her hands down to palm his chest; the twinkle in her eyes was as if she was slowly recognizing the touch of his skin beneath hers. He cupped her cheek with his hand, tilting her head up gently to his level and his other hand softly caressed her hip, pulling her as close to him as their little bump would allow. Brax pecked her lips softly before pulling back slightly, leaving his lips lingering centimeters from hers and waiting to see how she would respond, as if he were waiting for her to tell him to get off. She felt a heat burning in the centre of her chest as his lips touched hers, it was only then she could remember how good they felt, how much she loved everything about him. Before he moved again she brought her lips up to his, catching them slightly and relaxing into his body more as he pulled back in for more. Shock wave rippling down their cores and the water droplets that remained on their skin evaporating in the heat in the air around them as they lost each other in their embrace. Charlie opened her mouth wider wanting to taste more of him as Brax hands embedded themselves in her hair. She let him slip his tongue into her mouth, moaning against his lips as he met mine with his, she was struggling to get enough of him, the way he felt, his taste, it felt so good. She couldn't help but moan softly as he kissed her with such a passion that the air in her lungs left in an instant. She felt his hand hold on softly to the back of her neck, making her arch upwards and inwards to his body. Their lips holding onto each other's tightly, yet Brax still remained gentle with her, as if he was worried she would shatter into a million pieces if he tightened his grip. Charlie groaned as his hand left the back of her neck and ran down the ripples of her spine, gently caressing her skin before settling on her bra strap, she reluctantly pulled away abruptly and looked at him through suddenly scared eyes.

She sucked in a breath and took a step back away from him, "Brax we can't-"

"I'm sorry Charlie," Brax whispered softly, moving his hands back down to her hips.

"I'm not ready yet." She whispered softly, leaning her forehead against his, "And to be honest I don't think you are either."

"Charlie I know what I want." Brax whispered gently, his forehead leaning against hers as he fought the overwhelming urge to kiss her again.

"I'm not saying you don't but a few days ago you took off when things got tough." She said, tilting his head back towards her as her fingers gently touched his chin and her eyes caught his gaze."If we're going to do this I want it to be when we're both in the right head space." She said softly, leaning forward and claiming his lips with her own, her hand gently brushing over his jaw line as he responded to her kiss, his arms wrapping around her tightly.

"I'm sorry."

Charlie shook her head, "You don't have to be sorry Brax."

"Not for kissing you." Brax chuckled, laughing as she swatted him gently. "For taking off for the week." He said sincerely, his hands rubbing up and down the sides of her body.

"Why did you?"

"I was scared." Brax admitted quietly, smiling slightly before biting his lip, his fingers twisted the ring on his index finger before Charlie stopped him and held onto his hands with her own, noticing Brax's small smile at her actions. She couldn't remember all of him but she knew him so well, too well. "I guess I'd finally accepted that we were gone and now…I just wish I'd never let you go in the first place." He whispered, his lips pressing against her forehead softly before he pulled back, his eyes burning onto hers with an intensity Charlie's heart couldn't bare.

"I think I can forgive you." She smiled softly. "Just don't do it again." She laughed.

"Just take things slow?" He murmured softly into her ear, his lips brushing Charlie's cheekbone as he pulled back only slightly, his head still tilted at the side of hers, she darted her eyes towards his and looked down to his lips before, her hands palmed his chest and roamed up his body, delicately drawing patterns on his skin. Charlie bit her lip in gentle anticipation as his muscles twitched under her touch, before she nodded her head softly at his comment. Her eyes trailed down to look at his lips, which were teasingly close to hers. She parted my lips softly as his lips caught hers before he pulled back for more, his lips tugging gently on her bottom lip, causing me to whimper quietly into his mouth as he did so. Her hands held his shoulder blades tightly as electricity ricocheted down her body at his touch, immediately finding herself lost in his arms, his hands slowly tightened gently around her tracing patterns on her skin. Both of them in lost in the overwhelming desire to be in each other's arms again.

2 HOURS LATER

BIANCA POV

I looked up from my magazine as the front door clicked open, praying it would be Charlie returning from her somewhat long absence. I'd been worried about her all day, trying to convince myself that she just needed some time out but part of me couldn't help but be concerned that maybe I was just trying to hold on to my best friend so much that she could never possibly have the chance to disappear again. I raised my eyebrows as Charlie appeared in the doorway with Brax in tow behind her, both of them with awkward and guilty smiles on their faces as I threw them a curious glance. Brax nodded at me before disappearing down the hallway, leaving me and Charlie left to chat since Rubes and Heath were on their evening shifts.

I frowned as Charlie's smile disappeared and she slumped down onto the couch placing a pillow behind her back and rubbing her forehead gently with her hand. Even when she doesn't look her best her skin still glows and her eyes still pierce you when you look into them, the icy blue sheen stinging you; she had the ability to outdo you even when she was tired. And the most frustrating thing was she hardly had a scrape of make up on.

"Are you ok?" I asked with a slight chuckle as she yawned loudly and tucked her feet up under her thighs.

She nodded drowsily and threw a sleepy smile at me. "I think so."

"You think so?" I asked, raising my eyebrows half in concern and half in curiosity as she wrapped her arms around her little bump protectively and snuggled deeper into the couch.

She nodded sleepily and tipped her head back into the couch, her eyes closing in exhaustion. "Yeah I'm just really tired." She mumbled, tilting her head back down to look at me and chuckling as I raised my eyebrows in curiosity as to what her and Brax had been up to this afternoon. "We talked and I think we've both realized a few things." She sighed.

I nodded slowly before looking back at her. "Can I ask what these 'things' are?"

"We both need to be able to forgive ourselves before we can forgive each other for starters." Charlie said, her eyes glancing around the room to try and avoid mine, as though she were worried I'd be the first of many to give her a lecture. "But we both agreed we can take things slow." She said, nodding to herself and to me.

"Are you sure its what you want?" I said, raising my arms in surrender when she threw an unimpressed look at me.

"I can't live without him B, I just want to be happy." She grinned.

"That's the best thing I've heard you say," I beamed, reaching out to her outstretched hand and giving it a gentle squeeze in my own. She stood up slowly and leant down to give me a quick cuddle before leaning back up and rubbing one hand over the bottom of her waist and the other over her eyes.

"I'm gonna head to bed I'm tired." She giggled beginning to trudge down the hallway. We both jilted our heads round as someone chuckled from the doorway.

I grinned as I saw Heath smiling at Charlie before walking over and pecking her forehead, "Night Buckers dearest." He quipped, ruffling Charlie's hair gently, "You need carrying to bed?" he offered teasingly, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"No Heath I think I'll be ok." Charlie chuckled, rolling her eyes and hitting his chest playfully before walking past.

"You sure because I make a pretty good Prince Charming." Heath called after her, laughing as I raised my eyebrows and scoffed at him.

"Excuse me?" I asked, pouting as he grabbed my beer sitting on the coffee table and slumped down on the couch next to me.

"I love you darling." He whispered, kissing my cheek before pulling back and grinning at me.

3RD PERSON POV

Charlie tilted her head round from her bed as her bedroom door slowly creaked open. A small smile graced her cheeks as she saw Brax in the doorway in a muscle vest and boxer shorts. Her breath hitched and her heart lurched into her throat at the sight she'd wanted to see for so long and missed particularly the past week. A tinted dusky rose blush crept on her cheeks as Brax grinned at her, his dimples poking up onto his cheeks. Her attention broke off from him and back to Morag on the other end of the phone. She smiled lightly at her stepmother and rolled her eyes at Morag's concerning voice on the other end of the phone "I'm ok I promise." Charlie reassured her, bringing her eyes back to Brax as he laughed, recognizing the voice squawking at her down the other end of the phone. Charlie nodded her head at what Morag was saying, her eyes training on Brax's as he walked towards her slowly. Charlie bit her lip as she hung up the phone after saying goodbye, the both of them trying to ignore the elephant that was in the room.

Charlie felt her eyes water as Brax walked over to her and his hand brushed her cheek delicately, his thumb gently tucking her hair behind her ears. Her heart felt like it was beating in her mouth and her pulse ran thickly near the surface of her skin. She swore he could feel her cheeks burning up underneath his finer tips as they skimmed over her cheeks. She leant into his touch as his hand stayed on her cheek, the mere touch of his skin against hers making her feel consumed with the realization of how much she loved him.

"I'm so glad you're back." She whispered sleepily, her voice breaking softly as she spoke and her eyes never once leaving his as a small smile crept onto his face.

"Me too." Brax whispered huskily, his voice thick with longing as he leant forward slowly and his lips pressed against hers slowly. His hand embedded in her hair as they pulled back, their foreheads against each other softly and their noses brushing past each other before Brax reluctantly pulled away from her. Brax watched as Charlie's eyes lingered on his, the crystal tears watering them visible in the dim moonlight that brightened the room through the curtains. "I'm gonna look after you-both of you. I promise." Brax murmured, his hand still softly on her cheek. Charlie leant forward with a small smile on her face and tenderly reached her hand towards his cheek, making sure she took in each part of him, making sure she remembered the feeling of his skin underneath hers. She felt a tear skim down her cheek as Brax's eyes trained on hers and he took her tiny hand in his own, enveloping hers with his. She grinned as he kissed her knuckles softly before holding her hand in his against his chest.

"Close your eyes" he whispered, pulling her duvet up around her and then bringing his hand back down to hers. "I'm gonna sit with you for a minute and make sure my babies get a good nights sleep." He said softly. Charlie bit her lip as she looked down at their intertwined hands before shuffling back into her pillows more, leaving one of her knees bent and the other leg flat on the bed. Charlie smiled as Brax tucked the duvet over her bump before he trailed his hands round her calf muscle on her bent leg, his hands slowly massaging her slightly swollen ankles before he moved his hands up to rest on her thigh and lowered his head and his lips gently pressed against her knee. His eyes closed as he felt Charlie's hand reach down and take his hand in her own. He grinned as his lips left her knee and she squeezed his hand softly, their eyes looking at nothing but each other.

Woo happy Chax finally! (I hope the Chax reunion didn't feel too rushed!)

I hope that was worth waiting for and I will try and update Lost then Found next week, but I can't promise anything!

Please drop in a review x