"Ok, backpacks. Coats. You guys picked up your lunch right?" AJ crouched down outside the school gates with Nick and Harli, having already dropped off Rebecca at kindergarten.
"Yeah. Mine was the one with no crusts." Harli smiled.
"Just how you like it, yeah?" AJ smiled as her daughter nodded, "What about you?" She turned to Nick who was eager to get into school, "You have everything? I don't want another phone call from the school telling me you guys forgot your lunch or gym shoes." She said.
"I have everything." Nick nodded, "Is Eve picking us up today?" He asked, watching as all the other kids raced by them in the playground to go into school.
"Yeah." AJ nodded, "Eve is gonna pick you up and take you home. I'll be home for dinner time though." She told them as they both nodded, "Ok, you guys better get going." She said, planting a loud kiss on each of their cheeks, "I love you both." She said, standing up straight as they ran away quickly, hearing a faint 'I love you too' back from both of them.
Eve was the babysitter that AJ had for them. Due to her working hours in the hospital that didn't fit around the kids school day, she had to get one or else they'd have a decrease in income. The kids loved Eve. She was around about the same age as her, and was such a great help to her.
She got back in her car and drove to work, heading on quickly as she realised she was a little late. Her boss was pleasant enough to dismiss her late comings, as word got around that she was a single mom to three.
She stood in the staff room after hanging up her bag and jacket, clipping on her badge to her uniform as she got ready for a long shift ahead, heading out of the staff room and down the corridor to attend to the patients she was looking after.
"How are the kids, AJ?" A sweet, elderly woman asked who AJ had been taking care of for the past few weeks. She'd received a heart transplant and was being looked after by AJ who enjoyed the sweet company from her.
"Oh, they're good. Mrs Brown. It was Rebecca's birthday just a few days ago. She turned four." AJ smiled whilst busying herself around the room, helping the elderly woman sit up, giving her the medication she had to take, helping her eat and drink. Things like that.
"Four. What a simple age." The older woman smiled.
"I know. What I'd take to be a kid again." AJ smiled whilst measuring out the medication for the day.
"Oh, you're just a young girl." Mrs Brown shook her head, "You have plenty of time ahead of you."
"To do what? Look after three kids and work here." She said without meaning to be cheeky or hasty. She was best known in the hospital for her quirky nature and good sense of humour. It was why she got the job in the first place.
"You aren't happy, dear?" The older woman frowned.
"Oh, no. I am." AJ nodded, "I just feel like something is missing. You know?" She asked her.
"You're missing a sweet man, I think." The elderly woman smiled as AJ laughed softly, "You think you can't date or see anyone again because you have children? Nonsense." She smiled.
"I've had the chance. I just-"
"Miss your ex?" Mrs Brown smiled, "That's ok too, you know."
"Is it?" AJ asked, "You'd think three years apart, I would have forgotten him by now."
"Not if you loved him. You don't forget the people you love, sweetheart. They stay with you until the end. You couldn't forget your children now, could you?"
"Yeah, but that's different. Is it not?" AJ asked.
"Not really. Well, it's a different type of love, but both treated and dealt with the very same way. But you're smart, got a good head on your shoulders. You'll figure it all out." She said as AJ smiled.
"I hope so." AJ sighed, "Ok, here is your first lot of medication." She said, handing the tablets and cup of water to the older woman who swallowed them over no problem, "I'll be back round again later. You ok for just now?" She asked, about to move on to her next patient.
"A cup of tea wouldn't go a miss right now." She grinned as AJ smiled.
"Of course." AJ smiled, leaving the room and heading on to her next patient, doing her first round for the morning to make sure everyone was healthy, happy, comfortable and taking their right dozes of medication.
She enjoyed her work very much. It gave her a chance to talk to friendly people, and grateful people. Everyone was always so nice, and although sometimes it was challenging and hard when hearing that someone had passed away, or someone's cancer had came back, or seeing the poor old men lost without their wives, it broke her heart, but it was a very rewarding job in her opinion, and it was great to help.
"AJ, broken wrist downstairs. I'll take over here." Another nurse crept up behind AJ who nodded.
"Ok. Well I've already done Mrs Brown. She's requested a cup of tea too." AJ said as the other nurse laughed.
"Another one?" She laughed as AJ nodded with a smile, heading out of the unit and downstairs to the accident and emergency department.
She headed into the room she had been requested from and seen it was a small boy, maybe the age of Nick who appeared to have broke his wrist.
"Oh, dear." AJ sighed, "What happened here?" AJ asked, sitting down across from the boy and his mom.
"Riding his bike before school." The mother said as AJ nodded.
"Painful, huh?" She asked the small boy who nodded, "Well not to worry. We'll get you casted up, and we'll get you some pain killers to ease the pain. Ok?" She smiled as the young boy nodded, "You're so brave." She complimented as the boy smiled, "I'll be back in a minute."
Lunch time finally came around after a busy morning and AJ headed out to the deli across the road for a coffee and a sandwich. Thinking about it, it was probably one of the most quietest mornings actually. She'd had a hell of a lot busier.
Before entering the deli, having taken just her wallet across the road with her instead of her full purse, she felt a hand reach out on her shoulder as she quickly turned ready to attack.
"It's just me." Punk put his hands up as she rolled her eyes and relaxed.
"What are you doing here? Are you stalking me or something?" She asked him with confusion. It was still unreal to see him again, especially now in broad daylight on the busy street.
"No. Well… technically yes." He said, "I was wondering if we could talk now."
"I'm working." AJ shook her head at the request.
"Oh, yeah? I see you're really busy right now." He nodded as she turned away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of her laugh.
"I only have half an hour, and then I have to go back." She said.
"It's better than nothing." Punk said, "You just have to face the fact that I'm here now. There's no escaping me, alright." He said with a small smile as she shook her head.
"Fine. But… I'm paying for my own things." She said defiantly as he laughed.
"Who said I was going to pay for your stuff anyway?" He chuckled, walking in first to the deli as she sighed, following him in as they waited in the line to be served, not talking to one another, in fact, standing as if they didn't even know one another.
The got their things and took a seat at a free table in the corner, taking a few minutes for either of them to speak up. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to face him nor talk to him. She still hadn't figured out what it was he wanted her to say to the kids. Oh, hey guys. Daddy's back. Rebecca, this is your father. Nick, you remember him? Harli, he's not really your father but you did love him once. What did he expect her to do?
"Who is picking up the kids?" Punk asked curiously.
"The babysitter." AJ said, "I get home around five, so she picks them up from school, gets them home, does their homework with them." AJ explained as Punk nodded.
"You trust her?" Punk asked.
"Well obviously. Or else I wouldn't be letting her look after them. Would I?" She snapped as he backed away with a nod.
He had lay in his hotel room last night, not being able to stop thinking about her. Seeing her again felt so unreal, after so many years apart. He hated to admit it, but he was jealous of how good she still looked when he looked like a meth head that had just got released from prison.
"Have you thought about-"
"Thought about how I'm going to tell the kids that you're here? No." She said, "Incase you haven't noticed, but I'm busy with work, and taking the kids to school, and looking after them." She said.
"Fair enough." Punk nodded, "But if you don't figure out a way to tell them, then I'm just going to show up one day."
"I'd never forgive you if you done that." She said, "That would be so unfair to them."
"Then we best discuss how we're going to do this." He said. He got the presence of a stone cold woman in front of him. Like her heart wasn't beating anymore. She looked like all the love had been sucked from her body, and a permanent scowl just rested on her face.
"There's reasons that I've wanted you to stay away, Phil. You don't know what it's been like." She shook her head, picking at her sandwich, no longer hungry.
"Then tell me." He said, "Ok, we might not be married anymore. But you can still talk to me."
"I don't want to talk to you." She said quietly as he sat back on his chair.
"Then let's just talk about the kids. Let's do what's best for them. You took three years of their lives from me. I'm not- I'm not letting you take anymore." He shook his head as AJ sighed, watching him closely, seeing the pain and sadness spread across his face.
She had taken three years of his kids lives from him, and she was so sorry, but she done what she thought was best for everyone. She felt that it was too late now to explain to the kids that their father was back, but she supposed she'd have to. Punk looked way to determined to get them back, and she really couldn't deny him his own children.
"I'll- I'll talk to them tonight." She said as he looked up with hope, "I'll tell them that you're here and I'll ask them if they want to see you." She said, "If they don't. Then I'm not forcing them. If they do, we can arrange to meet in a few days." She said to him as he nodded with a smile, "But right now, I have to go back to work." She told him.
"You haven't finished-"
"I'm not hungry anymore." She told him, standing up and leaving the shop as he sat with the best hopeful smile he had in recent years. But through his happiness and hope of finally seeing his children again, and being their father, he couldn't ignore the fact that his ex wife was still unhappy. Did she really not want him to be around that bad?
A/N; Hope you guys are enjoying! Leave a review and let me know how you guys are finding the story and what you think will happen. Have a wonderful Saturday. -punklau