Chapter 1: how can you forget someone that gives you so much to remember?

Hi guys,

As you can probably guess by my fanfic name, I'm Holly I have been reading stories for a while now, but I finally plucked up the courage to upload this. At first you may find it similar to Charlie and brax's ending on home and Away, but like I said, I want a happy ending, many twists and turns! I have big plans for where this story is going to go so I hope you enjoy, and your reviews and thoughts are much Appreciated

Ruby POV:

I was struggling to comprehend what Sid had just told me, the words kept spinning in my head and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

"Charlie…Char-Charlie was pregnant?" I said, shaking my head in disbelief whilst Casey rubbed my back in circles, holding me tightly, trying to whisper the words of comfort that right now just weren't going to make a difference.

"I know that this is a very hard time for you right now…this must be very difficult for you to handle Ruby. The baby died instantly from the wounds Charlie sustained from the bullets, it was incredibly unlikely she knew about the pregnancy herself." Sid said tentatively.

"How far along was she?" I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks

"Because of her physical state Ruby, it was extremely difficult to tell but umm...I would say around 6-8 weeks" Sid said sincerely

"Right…umm so what happens now?" I grabbed Casey's hand and holding it tightly, since it seemed he was the only stable thing going on around me at the moment.

"Well, Ruby, your mothers injuries are extensive, we don't know how much oxygen was supplied to her brain, what we do know is that her brain can still function slightly, she is on life support at the moment, we are currently waiting on an improvement to see if she can breathe and function by herself…"

"What, I don't understand, I saw her, they took her in there just now and she was breathing on her own?" I said, in denial about the possibility my mum might not be able to breathe on her own again

"At the moment Ruby, the ventilators are breathing for her, we don't know when she'll be able to breathe on her own…or if she'll ever be able to, eventually you will need to decide when the time is right to take her off the ventilators…see if she can definitely breathe by herself, I know you want to believe that everything will be ok, that she'll wake up and things will be how you want them to be, but she can't do it on her own ruby, the machines are keeping her alive at the moment"

"So you're asking me when to turn it all off?" I said, alarmed and absolutely terrified I might loose Charlie "Can I have a moment alone with her please, I need to see her" I said choking back the tears

"Of course" Sid whispered, rubbing my shoulder as he stood and turned to go down the corridor

I stood up from the seat, breaking from Casey's embrace and walked hurriedly to the hospital room, I was aware that my legs would give way and I would collapse in a heap of tears if I walked any slower. I froze at the door and looked at her for a minute, she was so fragile, like she could go any minute, her skin was paled of the life that was in her 8 hours ago, she was a fraction as the vibrancy that she gave off, I clasped my hand over my mouth and stood in tears, my mum, could slip away any second, my mummy.

I walked over to the bed and sat next to her, holding her hand " you can't be dead…you're so beautiful and your hands, you're hands are still warm" I whispered. I looked at her in the hospital bed "oh mum…mummy" I cried, crawling next to her holding on tightly and nuzzling my head in the crook of her neck…and I laid their for what felt like forever…

Casey POV

I sat outside the hospital room, in a trance, thinking of how we would have been gone right now, to our new lives in the city. I was snapped out of my trance by Elijah and Leah, telling me that it was probably best that I ring Brax, tell him the news that we just heard of. How was I supposed to tell him that he lost his child? And that he could lose the love of his life too? I wasn't cut out for this. I hated hospitals, always have. You can see why.

Just then, hurried footsteps came round the corner. Brax. "Casey" he called out as he came running down the corridor, out of breath. "Brax where have you been, we've been trying to call you" I said, a hint of anger in my voice that he'd left us all here whilst he went after Jake

"I was at the station, I'm sorry, where's Charlie, is she ok, she's out of surgery right, she made it-"

"But the baby didn't" I cut in, purposely not making eye contact with him, I didn't have the strength to break his heart any more

"What?" he said, this time, the was a tone in his voice I have never heard before, a real sadness, a crack to it

"Sid, he informed us…there was nothing they could do for the baby Brax, and right now they're saying there is no more they can do for Charlie, her chances…her chances are small" I looked at him, and held out my arm to steady him. This was the first time I've seen my brother a broken man, I could see why, he could loose everything, I thought of what it would be like if I was him, and I sat next to him, deciding that Brax, deserved a shoulder to cry on, and something to lean on for once.

Brax POV

I don't know how long I sat there for, crying. I can't let her go, the thought of having no Charlie in my life is ripping my heart in two, and the baby…words don't explain how empty I feel right now.

"A baby…" I said under my breath

"Doctors, they say there's nothing more they can do for Charlie…they've given Ruby the choice as to when to turn her life support off, see if she can breathe on her own" Casey said

"Will she make it? If they turn it off?" He looked at me with sad eyes, and creased his brow "They don't know"

"Well then she can't do it, I won't let her!" I exclaimed. No one was taking Charlie away from me, not now. Not ever.

"Brax I really don't think this is needed right now" Leah butted in

"Mate, its really not your decision to make, Ruby's next of kin" Elijah said, suppose he was chipping in, doing his 'godly' duties

"Yeah but I'm her-"

"Brax don't do this, now isn't the time" Casey cut in

"No, no now is the time Casey, because in case you haven't already noticed, Charlie, my Charlie, is in there fighting for her life, my baby is dead and you all wanna just give up on her?"

"Brax you should leave" Leah said

"No Leah you need to tell her that it's not right" I pleaded

"I'm only trying to do what's right for Charlie" ruby said innocently as she walked out of the room. I paused and then turned on my heels, heading to my car. I was gonna be there for her, by her side, just talking to her, being there, and telling her how much I love her. How can you possibly try and make me forget someone who has given me so much to remember? I sat in my Ute, crying for god knows how long, but I decided Charlie needed me and I was gonna be there for her, the whole way. And with that I got out of the Ute to be with her.

As I walked into the room, I was overwhelmed with emotions, she was hooked up to so many machines, and the only comfort was the faint beeping noise of her heart. She was still going strong. As I sat next to her and took her hand I couldn't help but think of all the memories we shared, the good and the bad. And I couldn't help but think of earlier when we found her on the floor, still conscious, and the last words she said to me

6 HOURS EARLIER…

"We are so having a roster for all the house work" Ruby said cheekily

"Oh really is that right?" I replied

"Yep and you're gonna stick to it otherwise you might just find yourselves locked out" Ruby said winking at Casey

Case and me just chuckled

"Charlie?" Ruby said anxiously

I walked round her to see what had froze her feet to the ground

"Charlie, Charlie, Charlie! Quick Casey call an ambulance!" I yelled "Charlie, baby can you hear me?" I said touching her cheek, her eyelids were fluttering and her breathing was so heavy.

"Brax what is happening, what's going on" Ruby said frantically whilst stroking Charlie's hair

"She's been shot, here rubes you need to put pressure on this" I said passing her a towel

"Ambulance is on its way!" Casey called whilst running over to us

"Ch-ar-lie!" ruby cried

"Ouch, ow it really hurts" Charlie whispered, crying, as I took over from Ruby at putting pressure on the wound

"Charlie they're gonna take you to the hospital and we're coming with you, you're gonna be ok" ruby cried kissing her mums forehead

"Rubes, you know I love you" Charlie whispered crying in pain "and Casey you get over here" she said taking his face in her hands "you look after her" Charlie said, attempting her best firm voice. My head shot up when she said that, it was the words of a dying woman and no way was she going to die.

"Brax" she whispered, reaching out to my hand, I turned to face her and moved my hands so they were cradling her cheeks "I love you" she whispered whilst crying

"I love you to baby, the ambulance will be here soon, you're gonna be ok" I said, pushing back the tears in my eyes as I pushed my face up against hers so our noses were touching

"Its bad isn't it?" she whispered whilst crying out a bit in pain, she was gripping onto me for dear life.

"Charlie look at me, you're gonna be ok, just gotta count the hours still and we're gonna be free" I said, caressing her cheek, she smiled weakly "I won't let you go" I whispered to her

"And I won't ever forget you" she said smiling weakly before drifting into an unconscious state

"whoa, Charlie? Charlie, can you hear me, Charlie" I said frantically.

"Brax she's not breathing!" Ruby yelled, crying her eyes out as I started doing CPR on her

"Charlie! Charlie come on, come on Charlie stay with us! Come on baby, stay with us" I pleaded, luckily the ambulance arrived shortly afterwards.

BACK AT THE HOSPITAL…

"Just count the hours aye?" I whispered, looking at her, admiring how beautiful she is, letting a few stray tears out, running my fingers through her hair and I sat doing that all night.

How was it? I cried whilst writing the end! Hopefully i'll be able to update soon :)