Chapter 24 – The End

Casey, Summer, Bianca and Rocco were all at home by the end of the week. Casey and Summer's injuries had mostly healed, they were still a bit sore but were able to get around just fine without pain medication now.

Rocco was getting stronger by the day and was the centre of attention back at home, April and Irene had flocked around him the second he had come home which allowed Bianca to have some rest. Brax had offered Kyle a room at theirs so that they could get to know each other better and it had been gratefully received.

A month after the attack, Summer and Casey were summoned to court as witnesses in Danny's assault trial by letter and it had set them all on edge. Although Casey had planned to get Danny sent back to prison, he wasn't sure if it was going to be permanent or not.

"I can't face him." Summer was hyperventilating as she read the letter.

"It's ok, we'll all be there beside you." Romeo was with her that morning, they had planned on going to the beach but now it looked like that was going to abandoned.

"Why did everything have to change?" Summer asked no one in particular.

"What's changed kiddo?" Heath asked walking in with Rocco in his arms.

"Everything." Summer sighed and sat down in on the sofa, defeated.

"You're going to have to give me some more info Summer." Heath said seriously, raising an eyebrow as he watched his younger sister.

"So much has changed this year." Summer started quietly, Romeo sat down next to Summer and placed his arm comfortingly around her.

"Would you rather things hadn't?" Heath asked bravely, he wasn't sure whether he wanted to know the answer. He didn't know how he would feel if his little sister admitted that she would rather she hadn't come to live with them.

"Yes and no." Summer said softly. "Don't get me wrong, I love being here with you guys. I really do!" Summer wasn't sure if she was going to be able to say what she was thinking without hurting Heath. She rubbed awkwardly at her wrists when her scars lay, but Romeo grabbed her hands and placed them in his to prevent her hurting herself.

"I just… things were," Summer paused as she tried to find the perfect word. "simpler. They were simpler with Richard." She finally said, her voice only just above a whisper.

"Yes, I'm sure being beaten by Richard and bullied was so much simpler than being here with your brothers." Heath said angrily, which was enough to cause Rocco to begin to whinge.

Romeo saw this and stood up to relieve Heath of Rocco. "It's not as simple as that and you know it Heath." Romeo said boldly, "I'll take Rocco next door and you two should talk this over."

"Well?" Heath demanded, but his voice was softer this time.

"It's hard to explain. In the few months that I've been here, I've had to get to know my estranged brothers, made friends, found a boyfriend, been confronted with a much guarded secret, had painful memories resurface and been put in hospital by our father." Summer listed bitterly but watching Heath's reaction carefully.

"At least at Richard's, there were less variables. If he was in a bad mood, it was going to be rough but if he was in a good mood, then happy days!" Summer continued before Heath had chance to speak. "At least with Richard, I knew that I didn't directly cause it. But here, with what happened with Dad, I did that. It was my fault." Summer placed her head in her hands and began to cry silently.

As he watched his sister, Heath realised how much his words must have hurt her and how much guilt she was carrying with her. It wasn't fair for her to blame herself for the actions of their mongrel of a father. "Hush pup," Heath said as he sat next to her and pulled her into him.

"What happened was not your fault. Dad is just rotten to the core." Heath said whilst kissing the top of Summer's head. "You need to remember that." Heath said seriously.

"But…"

"No buts Summer, you do not control Dad's actions. You do not make him commit crimes." Heath said sharply, he clearly wasn't getting through to her by being nice about it.

"I've been summoned to court." Summer said quietly, "How can I face him?".

"With us by your side." Came the voice of Brax, who was stood in the doorway with Casey.

"I can't do it." Summer muttered.

"You can and you will. This is your chance to claim back your life Sum. It's your opportunity to show him that he doesn't control you." Brax said.

"But I'm not strong enough." Summer said quietly, her eyes on the group.

"You are and if you're not, we will be right there beside you." Brax said sitting down beside Summer. "You're stuck with us kid." He smiled as he put his arm around her and she nestled in.

"What about Kyle?" Summer asked, causing Heath and Brax to both look at her suddenly.

"What about him?" Heath shot darkly.

"Is he stuck with us too? We can't leave him on his own." Summer reasoned, albeit quieter than before in the awake of Heath's change of tone.

"He's got a family of his own." Heath barked.

"Heath." Brax warned as Summer recoiled into him slightly.

"No he hasn't, he grew up without a family. He was even worse off than me. He needs us." Summer said a little bolder this time. "It would be nice to have someone similar to me." She added, causing Brax to raise his eyebrow.

"What do you mean? We're the same as you, he's your half-brother." Brax asked confused by her statement.

"I know that, I mean someone that grew up without siblings; alone." Summer frowned slightly. "He was abandoned by Danny and his mother died. That's kind of like me, it would be nice to have someone who understands that." Summer explained.

"You can't be suggesting that he moves in here?" Heath snapped, the subject clearly agitated him but Brax ignored him.

"Do you think he should move in here?"Brax asked Summer.

"Yes. So that we can be together as a family." Summer smiled.

"Ok, I'll have to talk to Casey first but we'll work something out." Brax smiled too, ignoring the scowl from Heath.

Brax was worried about Summer. In the week leading up to Danny's trial, Summer had barely said a word. She'd got up, picked at 'breakfast', gone to school, come home, finished her homework, was forced to eat dinner and then went to bed. None of the Braxton's were getting any emotion out of her, Romeo was getting snippets but he wasn't going to tell Brax what they had been discussing. Brax had tried desperately to get her to talk but he couldn't get her to open up to him. The only thing easing his worries, only slightly though, was that she had promised him that she wasn't harming herself. At least that was something.

Kyle had moved into the spare room and had integrated well amongst the Braxton's. Well, apart from Heath who was doing everything he could to avoid Kyle. As Summer had suggested, she and Kyle had formed a close bond already. The pair of them were frequently found in each other's company, they weren't talking about anything in particular but were simply enjoying each other's company.

One afternoon, the conversation between them turned serious. "Can I ask you something Summer?" Kyle had asked cautiously.

"Of course." Summer smiled at her new brother.

"It's kind of personal." Kyle scratched his head awkwardly, before continuing. "I've seen the scars on your wrists."

"Ah" Summer sighed.

"Is it something that you're doing now or a past thing?" Kyle asked, keeping his voice hushed unsure as to whether it was public knowledge.

"A bit of both." Summer sighed again.

"Look, I know we don't know each other very well." Kyle was still unsure of himself as he continued with the conversation, but he couldn't turn back now. "If or when you feel like you need to hurt yourself, please come and find me. We'll work through it together."

Summer smiled at Kyle and leaned into his shoulder, unable to hug him due to him holding his guitar. She was glad that he had agreed to move in with them and she felt like she was forming a unique bond with Kyle. It was nice to get to know him without any expectations. When she'd come to live with her brothers, they had remembered how she had been as a child and part of them still expected her to be the same when she definitely was not.

Brax watched the exchange from the kitchen window, but couldn't hear what was being discussed. Kyle started strumming his guitar lightly as Summer swayed gently to the beat, her eyes closed and her head tilted upwards towards the sunlight; enjoying its warmth.

Brax was about to turn away when, sailing in through the open window, he heard Summer start to sing and he was captivated as he watched them.

'And you ask me what I want this year,

And I try to make this kind and clear.

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.

Cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings,

And designer love and empty things.

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days'

Kyle listened to Summer sing and nodded his head to a beat within the lyrics. He joined her with his guitar and the surprise was evident on her face as he joined her in the chorus.

'So take these words.

And sing out loud.

Cause everyone is forgiven now,

Cause tonight's the night the world begins again'

Their voices harmonised beautifully, as if they had been singing together for years. Summer nodded to Kyle to take the lead in the next verse.

'I need some place simple where we could live

And something only you can give

And that's faith and trust and peace while we're alive.

And the one poor child who saved this world.

And there's 10 million more who probably could.

If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them.'

Brax made his way to the back door so that he could watch his younger siblings together. The scene before him could not have been any more perfect and he wished he could just freeze things in that moment. There was no animosity, there was no pending court case, no abuse, no hurt and the weather was bright and warm. Brax felt privileged to be witnessing this as the siblings heading into the chorus together.

'So take these words.

And sing out loud.

Cause everyone is forgiven now,

Cause tonight's the night the world begins again'

Kyle broke into a small guitar solo before Summer took the bridge and suddenly Brax as aware of people behind him. He turned quickly and placed a finger on his lips to silence Casey, Heath and Bianca.

'I wish everyone was loved tonight,

And somehow stop this endless fight.

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.'

Summer and Kyle remained oblivious to their audience as they continued towards the end of the song, both transfixed on each other.

'So take these words,

And sing out loud.

Cause everyone is forgiven now.

Cause tonight's the night the world begins again.

Cause tonight's the night the world begins again.'

It was Summer who had the last lyrics and Brax could feel his tears forming in the corners of his eyes. She had sung with such emotion and had such a beautiful voice, Brax felt jealous that Summer had managed to form such a connection with Kyle and so quickly. As she and Kyle finished their song together, the spectators clapped enthusiastically.

Summer and Kyle both matched each other in redness as they turned to see their siblings behind them. Kyle looked at Summer and caught a falling tear with his finger and caressed her cheek before resting his head against hers.

"It'll be ok. We've got each other now." Kyle whispered to his little sister, but Brax had heard and felt compelled to comment.

"You've both got us. All of us." Brax smiled and nodded to Heath, Casey and Biana. "We'll help you find better days".

"So that's really it? He's never getting out?" Casey asked to no one in particular as they left the court house. Danny Braxton had been charged with two counts of GBH and was returning to prison indefinitely as they spoke.

"Sure looks that way." Brax sighed in relief. This is how it should have been when he had been sent down for armed robbery all those years ago and if not, he should have at least been unable to contact his children.

"What if he gets out again?" Summer asked uncertainly.

"That's a big if. For now, he's gone and we can get on with our lives." Brax pulled her into his side and rubbed her shoulder gently.

"Wow" Was all that Summer could say. She looked back at Kyle, who was walking slightly behind the four of them, reached for his hand and smiled when he took it.

"So does this call for a celebration or something?" Casey asked, not sure what to say.

"If you want." Brax smiled genuinely at his brother, maybe it was something worth celebrating? But then it dawned on him, that something else needed more of a celebration. "Although, I think someone else deserves a little celebration of their own." Brax's smile broadened as he saw the confused look on his siblings face.

"Who for? It's not my birthday for a few weeks yet!" Heath laughed.

"Not you, you idiot. If I remember rightly it's pup's birthday tomorrow and nearly a year since she's been living with us too." Brax looked down at Summer, who looked up at him with wide eyes.

"It's been a year already?" Heath repeated.

"We don't need to do anything for that." Summer said quietly, not liking the attention she was now receiving.

"Well if that's the case, I'll have to take you presents back and get Bianca to take back all the BBQ food that she's got waiting for us at home." Brax smirked as he saw the look of panic on Summer's face. "Oh and I better tell Romeo he can't stay over the night either…"

"No, no, its fine. A BBQ at home sounds great!" Summer grinned. "I've never had a birthday party before."

"What?" Casey echoed, "You've never had a party?".

"Nope." Summer mused, "it wasn't top of Richard's priorities and I didn't really mind. We usually had a nice dinner or something like that, when he remembered."

"Well that's got to change!" Heath chimed in. "When's your birthday Kyle?"

"Oh, erm." Kyle was shocked to be included in the conversation, especially by Heath. "It's June 10th."

"I suppose you've not celebrated it much either?" Heath asked,

"Heath." Brax berated.

"No it's ok. I've not really celebrated it much since my mum died." Kyle answered.

"Then we'll celebrate yours too." Heath nodded.

"Thanks" Kyle muttered and Summer squeezed his hand as they reached Brax's ute.

Brax had been true to his word, waiting for them when they got home was a BBQ in the back garden. Romeo and Bianca were there as well and Summer felt herself bubble up with excitement. Summer jumped straight out of the car and ran into Romeo's out stretched arms.

"Happy early birthday babe!" Romeo smiled as he kissed the top of her head lovingly.

"Thank you all so much." Summer turned to face her family, grinning as she did so.

"Any time pup." Heath smiled and handed her a can of diet coke. "Now let's eat!" He cheered, diving into the food as if he had been starved.

Everyone laughed as Heath began to pile his plate with food and before long, Casey and Brax were hot on his tale. Summer took a seat on the grass as Romeo went to get them some food, she cooed at Rocco as he lay nearby in the shade watching the scene around him. He was getting bigger by the day and Summer was enjoying watching him become more aware of his surroundings and grow.

Romeo soon returned and sat on the seat behind her and once Summer had shuffled between his legs, he handed her a plate of food. She kissed him gently as he did so, happy that he was there to join them in their celebration. Before tucking into her food, Summer looked up to see Brax handing Kyle a beer before they both sat down to eat.

As the Braxton's descended into a happy silence, Summer felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. So much had changed in the year since she had been there and she truly believed that the bad was behind them. It was now time to move on and focus on her studies, Romeo and getting her life back on track.

"You know what?" Summer said to no one in particular, but capturing the attention of everyone. "I think we've found our better days." Summer smiled wider than she had ever done before and was rewarded when everyone raised their drinks to her and nodded in agreement.

For the first time in her entire life, Summer Braxton felt safe, free and loved and it felt amazing.

The End

Thank you very much for your positive reviews throughout the course of this story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Sadly, though this is the end of this story.

Much love, faithful reviewers 3