Chapter 3

Another year quickly passed by and it was finally time for Kyle to return home from the UK.

Heath was due to pick his little brother up from Sydney airport, then after making one final stop by his place to pick up Bianca they were going to make their way back to Summer Bay for Kyle's celebratory welcome home gathering.

Heath spotted Kyle amongst the array of crowded people and waved madly and yelled out to him.

"Hey; little Kylie: over here!"

Kyle briefly glanced down with a hint of embarrassment as people around him turned their gaze towards the shout; Heath could be so loud and humiliating sometimes.

Kyle made his way over to his brother and Heath roughly pulled the tired teen in for a hug.

"How are you, little bro? It's great to have you back on Aussie soil!" Heath stated and slapped Kyle on the back.

"I'm fine; a little jet-lagged, but I'm glad to be back," Kyle replied.

"Well, there won't be any rest for you, because we got to get you home. Brax has planned a huge welcome home gathering for you and I doubt he'd want to spend it with you sleeping the whole way through."

"That wasn't necessary," Kyle replied.

"Try telling him that," Heath chuckled and guided Kyle out the door of the airport and towards his car.

When they reached Heath's house, Kyle greeted Bianca with a hug and swapped seats with her; moving from the front to the back to allow her to sit beside Heath in the front.

"So Kyle, what do we call you now: Professor Kyle?" Heath asked as they drove towards Brax's home.

"Heath, be serious," Bianca scolded and tapped her partner's arm.

"I am being serious. Kyle's like super brainy now, more than he used to be. He's got to be known as something big now," Heath defended.

Kyle laughed, "No I don't; besides I still have to go to Uni to be classed as a Professor."

The rest of the trip consisted of Bianca quizzing Kyle on what the UK was like while Kyle just wished he could get home and see his remaining two brothers.


Heath honked the horn as he pulled into Brax's drive.

The eldest opened the door at the ready.

Casey who had been anxiously pacing all morning at the arrival of his brother coming home, stopped to stand beside Brax in the doorway, while Ricky remained inside tending to the twins.

Kyle raced out of the car and crashed into a tight hug with Casey before giving Brax a hug.

"You haven't changed a bit," Brax commented as he pulled away and looked Kyle over.

"I'm so glad you're home," Casey piped up, causing Kyle to rest his hand on Casey's shoulder.

Heath greeted his brothers then grabbed Kyle's luggage from the boot and wheeled it inside as Bianca was left to make her greeting.

Kyle glanced out in the back yard and saw the table set up with cups, plates, napkins, and cutlery.

"This is all for you," Brax informed, patting Kyle on the back.

"Thanks, but as I said to Heath: you didn't have to," Kyle answered, however still feeling grateful that his big brother went to the all the trouble of setting this up for him.

"Nonsense, Kyle; you deserve this," Brax replied as he smirked at Kyle.

After Kyle got settled back in, the family made their way outside.

Brax had taken the twins out in their shaded playpen on the grass, while Bianca and Ricky organised the pasta salad and potato bake that Ricky had cooked up that morning and brought that outside and Heath carried the meat out for the barbecued burgers.

Brax and Heath kept busy cooking the meats and chatting.

"You wait until you taste these health burgers, Bianca brought down. I swear some of the things she's got me eating sometimes are just disgusting; you wouldn't even think it was food," Heath informed his older brother, receiving a smirk from Brax as they began plating up the meat.

Brax eyed Bianca standing in close proximity, who heard every word Heath said and head nodded to his brother.

"You have never complained before, Heath," Bianca remarked.

"That's only because I love you," Heath snickered and leaned over to kiss Bianca.

"That is not going to save you. Besides it wouldn't hurt you to be more healthy wise with us trying for a baby," Bianca blurted out, causing all eyes to divert onto the young couple.

"'ey: Heath, you sly dog," Brax teased.

"What? I have to catch up to you with these two tykes," Heath replied, pointing to the twins as they put the food down on the table.

"Not to mention Kyle and Casey too," Heath laughed.

"Hey! I'm not a kid!" Casey protested.

"Neither am I!" Kyle added in haste.

"So cute; you'll both always be kids to me, no matter how old you are," Heath teased and ruffled both their hair; making Casey grunt and Kyle frown from the older boy's actions.

"Bet that goes for Brax too."

Brax shrugged when both boys looked to him for back up.

"What can I say; I raised you both."

Casey huffed, "Big brothers; can't live with 'em, but can't live without them."

Kyle chuckled and placed his arm around Casey's shoulder.

"Hey, at least we'll always be in this together, like you've said: us against them."

Casey smiled in return.

"I think this news deserves a beer," Brax announced and handed Heath a beer and placed one of the table for himself.

"Can I have one then if we're meant to be celebrating?" Casey asked cheekily.

Brax raised his eyebrow at Casey.

"You know the answer to that Casey," Brax warned, "You have your soft drink."

Casey groaned in response.

"Well, can I have one? Come on Brax. I am eighteen now," Kyle complained.

Brax huffed. "Fine, but just one, and in fact that reminds me: you're grounded for two weeks," Brax replied, and handed Kyle a beer.

"What? What did I do?" Kyle exclaimed with his mouth open wide.

Everyone alerted their attention to the second youngest.

"Don't think I forgot about your little drink you had in the UK when you were underage," Brax implied, gazing sternly at Kyle.

Kyle groaned and Heath let out a laugh.

"Sucked in Kyle; big fella never forgets. Just when you thought you were getting treated like a man, being allowed one beer," Heath chuckled, "You should know not to get too comfy Kyle, because you're still a kid: my little Kylie-Wylie!" Heath teased and completely messed up Kyle's hair.

"Mature; real mature," Kyle grumbled, but couldn't stop his smirk from forming.

"You love me, Kyle," Heath teased.

As the family finally began to eat their meals, Bianca and Ricky discussed Bianca's pregnancy plans while the brothers continued their own playful chatter.

Mid-way through the meal the postman arrived and having finished eating for the moment, Kyle offered to go and collect the post.

Upon returning to his family, Kyle held an official looking envelope in his hand.

"What's that you got?" Brax asked and Casey cocked his head to attention.

"It looks like it could be my results," Kyle mumbled, feeling slightly nervous at his pending fate.

"Well open it you goose; don't leave us hanging!" Heath ordered.

Kyle ripped open the letter with slight hesitancy and reading the mark on the paper he smiled widely.

"What does it say?" Ricky asked.

"What mark did you get Kyle?" Bianca added.

"I...I received a UAI of 99.1," Kyle informed.

"What does that mean?" Casey quizzed.

"Means he's smart, Doofus," Heath answered, leaning over and giving Casey a whack to his head.

Casey frowned and rubbed his head.

"Wow, good job, Kyle," Brax praised.

"So what career move are you going for?" Bianca asked.

"Yeah Professor Kyle," Heath couldn't help but tease.

Kyle frowned.

"Heath, I told you I'm not a professor," Kyle directed to his older brother.

"I was thinking of doing a career as a science teacher, either at a high school or university level, and in between times use my knowledge of music to volunteer at the youth centre to teach music to disadvantaged kids."

"That's really beautiful, Kyle," Ricky gushed.

"You've got a good heart mate, and I'm real proud of you," Brax praised, giving Kyle a proud slap on his shoulder as he'd gotten up from the table to grab some more food.

"So proud it warrants not being grounded for my little drinking incident?" Kyle hinted as he gave a cheeky smile.

Brax scoffed, "Fat chance. I may be proud, but I'm not stupid that I'll let you off doing the wrong thing."

Kyle had already known Brax wasn't one to budge when his decision was final, but it didn't stop him from riling the eldest up.

Kyle shrugged, "Hey, I tried."

Kyle noticed Casey looking dejected again and frowned in concern, but before he could approach the youngest, Casey spoke up.

"So you're going away again?" Casey mumbled, resting his head on one of his hands and gaining the attention of the three older brothers.

Kyle had now walked beside his little brother.

"Not likely, and certainly not until I've done the most import thing, before any of that: take time off to spend with my family, especially my little brother who we have so much catching up to do," Kyle announced proudly and smiled; swinging his arm around Casey's shoulder, making the youngest smile.

Kyle slipped back into his seat next to Casey and shoulder bumped him.

"I'm always going to be here for you, nothing's ever going to change that. I've told you that before. You and me: we're the best brothers to the very end," Kyle whispered.

"Forever," Casey muttered back and smiled.

"Oi: whispering twins; Brax is asking if you want any more food or drink!" Heath snapped, standing behind and pushing his hands on his two younger brother's heads and turning them around to face the oldest.

Kyle and Casey laughed.

"Yeah I'm actually a bit hungry again, especially for those super food burgers that Heath loves so much," Kyle smarted.

"I don't...who asked you anyway!" Heath dismissed and released his brothers.

"Me too, but for the normal ones," Casey piped up, continuing to laugh.

"Leave your brothers alone, Heath," Bianca lightly berated, "I hope you're not going to be this menacing with our baby?"

"You've done it now mate," Brax joked and placed more food in front of Casey and Kyle.

"They're my brothers; it's part of my job description to give them a hard time," Heath defended.

"I don't think that's going to help your case," Ricky informed.

"Sheesh, I don't envy you having to deal with these two trouble makers," Heath grumbled; indicating towards Casey and Kyle before sitting back down.

Brax made his way over to Heath and gave him a hard shove, causing Heath to fall off his chair onto the ground with a thud.

"Oi: what's the big idea?"

Brax stood over Heath smirking and with his arms firmly crossed.

"You're my brother; I can give you a hard time," Brax repeated what Heath had just said and snickered out a laugh; being quickly joined by all the others.

"Brothers," Ricky whispered to Bianca.

"Remind me not to have a baby that resembles the antics of these four."

"Sorry Bee; it's inevitable with a Braxton; they just have that special brotherly bond with each other, but it's what makes their family complete," Ricky replied with a nod.

Heath had gotten up and had since made a chase for the eldest, whilst Kyle and Casey remained laughing and savoring their time together; all acting like true brothers would.


Author's note:

Many thanks to everyone who had reviewed this short story:

Braxton54, BJ071992, BonnieSveenFan, Braxtonboyzz123, fanficforyou, and Cass285.

Also thank you to everyone who read, favourited, followed, or reviewed, including after completion. I have appreciated the support greatly and hope you will enjoy what I have in store next. :)