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Charlie Buckton stepped down the hallway quietly, as not to wake up her housemates. Leah Patterson was sleeping soundly, as was her nine year old son VJ. Charlie crept past VJ's partially open door, heading towards her sixteen year old daughter's room.

Ruby was sleeping peacefully, curled up in a ball, her brown blonde streaked hair spread over the pillows. Charlie smiled- she looked just as sweet and innocent as she had when she was a newborn. Charlie perched herself gingerly on the end of the bed, trying not to move- if Ruby woke up she'd scream loud enough to wake the dead and accuse her mother of not wanting her to make it to her seventeenth birthday.

Looking down at the envelope resting on her lap, Charlie thought back to the night she wrote the letter inside.

Flashback- 1992

Fourteen year old Charlie Buckton looked down at the newborn, sleeping peacefully in the plastic hospital cot. All day, doctors and nurses had been shooting her evil looks, for getting pregnant so young- if only they knew the truth.

Reaching for a pen, she decided to tell her baby daughter the truth. She was going to find out one day- even if Charlie didn't want her to.

Darling Ruby,

You're so small, lying there tonight, all wrapped in pink. So tiny- I can't believe that just this morning you were inside of me. All day, I've been getting looks from nurses, telling me I'm too young to have a baby. At fourteen, I'd agree. But when I first heard your heartbeat, I knew it was the right thing to do.

Baby girl, fourteen is too young to raise a baby. I'll do the best I can, with help from my parents- your grandparents. I'll finish school and then try to get a job in the police force- a dream that has been mine since I was a little girl. When I'm old enough, we'll move out of the house, into our own. Mother and daughter, facing anything together.

Ruby, when you're older I'll explain about your father and why you were born when I was so young. Maybe as the years go on it'll be easier- maybe they'll be harder. But I know, my little girl, that I will tell you.

You're so peaceful, a gorgeous little baby. And I want you to know, Ruby, that I love you, more than anything else in the world.

Infinite hugs and kisses,

Mum

Charlie folded up the letter and placed it in the envelope, sealing it.

End flashback

Charlie smiled from the doorway, still seeing the little girl who trusted her with absolutely everything. Her innocent baby face, her blue eyes shining into hers.

Flashback- 1997

"Charlie?" a small voice said.

Charlie, yawning, felt something touch her arm. "Mmm?"

"Charlie, are you awake?" the small voice said again.

"I'm 'wake, I'm 'wake". Charlie didn't open her eyes. "what's the matter, Rubes?"

"Daddy says Mummy's getting sick, Charlie".

That forced Charlie's eyes opened. She looked over at the little girl, and then, blinking furiously, the clock. She very nearly let out a yell, but when she saw the scared look on Ruby's face, she paused. "Ruby, Mummy is getting sick. But the doctors are going to make her better. That's why Daddy took her to the doctor's today".

"Is Mummy gonna die?"

That comment nearly made Charlie fall off the bed. Scooting over, she made room for the little girl to climb in next to her.

"Mummy's not gonna die, Rubes", she said, kissing her on the forehead. "I promise you now".

"But what if she does?" Ruby wanted to know.

"She won't".

"But what if she does?"

"She won't", Charlie repeated, more firmly.

Ruby sighed, trusting her older sister. Leaning her head on Charlie's shoulder, she closed her eyes, comforted by having the older girl there.

End flashback

Charlie sighed, as Ruby let out a content sigh, rolling over. Ruby had always been comforted by Charlie- she loved her big sister (or mother, it depended which way you looked at it) more than anything. She had stuck by her when Charlie was with Joey, she had helped her through the depression she had fallen into when Joey left. Charlie loved Ruby like a sister, but a mother daughter bond was unbreakable.

Flashback- 2002

Charlie braced herself for the comical chatter of her younger sister, as the primary school bell went.

"Hey Charlie!" Ruby said excitedly, flinging open the car door. "I thought Dad was going to pick me up today! Why are you here, Charlie?"

Without giving Charlie a chance to answer, she ploughed on.

"We did art today, Charlie, it was awesome but I accidentally got yellow paint on my dress. Do you think Mum will be able to get it out?" she indicated the splodge of yellow paint that had dried on the front of her school uniform. "We started a new book today, as well; it's really, really funny! It's called The BFG. Did you ever read The BFG, Charlie?"

Once again, the nine year old didn't give her sister a chance to answer.

"On the weekend can Lilly come over? Because Lilly's, like, my best friend and Daddy said she could. So can she?"

"Rubes!" Charlie almost shouted, a smile on her face. "Jeez, Rubes, calm yourself!"

"What?" Ruby asked innocently.

"You wanted to know why I'm here, right?"

Ruby nodded silently.

"Mum's sick, Rubes. We're going to the hospital".

"Oh". Ruby quietly uttered the single word. "do you think you'll be able to get the paint out of my uniform?"

Although Charlie was almost sick with worry about her mother, Ruby always made her laugh.

"I'll try, Rubes. I'll try".

"Thank you".

"And Rubes?"

"Yeah Charlie?"

"I have read The BFG".

End flashback

Charlie padded back to her bedroom, sliding under the covers. Her father's new wife Morag had brought the secret out a few weeks ago, and her relationship with Ruby had been rocky since. There was nothing more that she wanted than her baby sister back.

Flashback- 2006

Ruby skidded into the office, her backpack hanging off her shoulders. "Where's Charlie?" she yelped. Her older sister had only ever pulled her out of school once in her lifetime, and it was because of their mother.

Charlie's eyes were red and her cheeks were tearstained- anyone could see she had been crying. "Rubes", she choked out.

Ruby felt her throat tighten. "Its Mum, isn't it?"

Charlie just nodded and her little sister dived into her arms, in tears.

End flashback

Charlie had done everything she possibly could to comfort Ruby that day, trying not to show her real hurt. Her mother, Elsie, had supported her through the entire pregnancy, sticking by her daughter like no one else had. She had been sick for a long time but it was that day that she left Charlie. She was heartbroken- and so was Ruby.

After Elsie died, Charlie moved to Summer Bay, to escape the memories her old town had. Soon after, Ross brought Ruby to Charlie- he couldn't handle the teenager any longer. She was getting into trouble at school and with his Alzheimer's he couldn't deal with it.

Ruby had settled in well to Summer Bay High, which Charlie was pleased about. She had made a tonne of new friends, fitting into the small community almost immediately. Charlie couldn't have been happier.

It wasn't until Morag, Charlie's stepmother, brought the secret out into the open that Ruby started having some problems. Charlie didn't blame her the slightest.

Charlie jumped slightly- she had always been a light sleeper. The sound of the toilet flushing made her relax, as she slid back down onto the pillows. Whoever was awake padded back to their bedroom, and Charlie closed her eyes again.

Then whoever had gotten up to use the bathroom started walking around again- this time in the direction of Charlie's room. The figure slipped in the door, pulling back the covers.

Peeping out of one eye, Charlie saw it was Ruby.

The younger girl slid into the bed, pulling the blankets back. Wrapping her arms around the girl she always knew as her sister, Ruby whispered the sweetest words in the world.

"I love you Charlie".

A mother's bond with their child is one of the strongest things in the world. And that was what Charlie and Ruby had.

A bond.