Chapter 9

After a quiet flight to Gainesville, hopping into his truck in long-term parking and a drive to the outskirts of town, AJ unlocked the front door of his house, standing aside to let Kat precede him inside but found the woman's eyes tracing the entryway.

She had all the appearances of how she looked at the front door to her former home a few hours ago and it broke his heart. He didn't want her to feel that way here. This was meant to be her sanctuary; a place to heal and relax like the Island was, not some place to fear or dread.

He carried his bags inside, placed them down in the foyer, and went back to take her bags from her clenched hands. He would fix this; ease her away from this day's pain and into comfort.

"There's plenty of space, inside and out. There's a pool and hot tub out back and I live on acreage if you want to take quiet walks. I'll show ya to your room and then give ya a tour." He ushered the quiet woman into the house, kicking the door shut behind them and kept pace beside her.

He was getting worried about her silence. He wondered if Dean had finally pushed her too far.

"This is the main family room but the kids have one on their side of the house near their rooms. Unless we're having a movie night, they tend to stick to their den to play games or watch their shows. There's a TV in your room but this is where you can come to hang out with me if you want." He started down a hall, glancing back to make sure she was following.

"You have four of them, right?" Her soft voice took him by surprise and he turned with bright eyes and a smile that she remembered his children.

"That's right. I've got three boys and a girl. Ajay is twelve, Avery is ten, Albey is eight and Anney is three." His face lit up just talking about his kids. They were his pride and joy, after all.

"Guess you really wanted a girl huh? You gave up the two year gap and went for five to get her."

"I definitely wanted a girl in the mix somewhere but I didn't think I'd have ta have three boys in a row ta get her. Don't get me wrong, my boys are amazing but can be a handful especially when they're so close in age." He chuckled, continuing down the hall that led to the master bedrooms.

"Hate to break it to you, handsome, but that trait seems to come from the mother. Every woman on my mother's side of the family had two girls before getting a boy. You should count yourself lucky that you got your boys to carry on your name and; for the record, older sisters are Satan. They don't protect their younger brothers like older brothers protect younger sisters." She gave him a crooked smile with a slight shrug coming to a stop at a closed door.

"So are ya telling me ya know from experience that girls are worse than boys?"

"From work experience, yes; I'd like to punch most of the Divas in the throat almost daily. Not from personal experience, no. I was my parents' first and only child but my mother had an older sister who had two girls before she had two sons, my grandmother had a younger sister and two younger brothers after, and all those girls were evil to their little brothers." She smiled fondly for a moment.

"So your parents decided to stop after you?"

"No, my parents died after me."

"Oh!" His eyes widened; a look of shocked horror on his face. "I'm so sorry, darlin." He dropped her bags, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "The photo albums – that is what ya wanted most of all out of that pile." He felt her slight nod against his chest and ran one palm over the back of her hair in a soothing gesture. "Ya should've let Finn keep beatin' his ass."

"I might really detest the man right now; and by detest I mean I can't bear the thought of him, the sight of him, the smell of him or the knowledge that he's breathing the same oxygen as me but I can't say I've ever really truly hated anyone in my life." She pulled back a bit and stared up into his eyes.

"Do you hate your ex?" She asked and he shook his head with a heavy sigh. "I can't hate Dean either. They might have gutted us in the end but they gave us something precious along the way – love - and you are lucky enough to have four living, breathing reminders of that."

"You're pretty amazing, ya know that?" He smiled down at her; palming her cheek.

"It's a gift." She shrugged and he laughed; kissing the top of her head before retrieving her bags.

"This is yours." He opened it and felt warmth in his chest when she walked in first; exploring her space like she did their room on Aogashima Island. "The closet and drawers are empty for ya ta store your things. Whenever ya feel up to it, we can hit the mall and shop for clothes and whatever else ya need."

"You're a shopper?" She cocked her head with an impressed look in her eyes. "Wow! You cook, you shop, you're hot and a great body pillow in bed. I do believe you're a keeper." She smirked before checking out the walk-in closet.

"Someone didn't think so." He mumbled beneath his breath but she heard; closed the door and crossed to stand before him with an arched brow.

"Well that was on her, not you. It isn't like she didn't know what she was signing up for when she married you." She brushed his hair back from his eyes and could see the pain and hesitation still lingering within them. "She knew what you were working towards and what would happen once it was achieved. You didn't do anything wrong. You loved her, provided for her, remained faithful to her and came home to her when you could. She should've bought a really great vibrator and been happy that she got one of the good ones in our fucked up business."

"Darlin, you are the best." He chuckled; pulling her into him by her hips and leaned his forehead against hers.

"I'm just speaking the truth but thank you, AJ." She glanced up at him with a tired but gracious smile. "Do you mind if I get cleaned up and change before we complete the tour?"

"Not at all. Considering we've done this as recently as last week, it shouldn't bother you too much that we share the master bath." He waved her over and opened the door in her room leading to the spacious bathroom. "That door leads to the hall and the one across from us goes to my room. We've got a separate shower and tub, and his and hers' vanities."

"Damn, AJ, your shower and tub is up to female standards. I am going to take a swim in this for sure." She ran her hand along the large circular free-standing Royal tub. "I could live in this room."

"If you don't mind me borrowing it to shower and shave then knock yourself out. Just remember to lock the door to my room when you're in here." He walked into his room, leaving her to explore for a moment. It took him a minute to return and stand behind her, waiting while she set the temperature in the shower stall. "A fresh shirt of mine to wear around the house, princess." He handed over the tank with a slight bow.

"It still smells like you so it will do. Thank you, AJ." Her green eyes fixed on his blues; the shirt held to her nose to breathe him in.

"You're welcome." He cursed himself for the blush flooding his cheeks. The thought of her liking his scent did something to him. "Why've you been calling me AJ instead of Mr. Styles?"

"I'm in your home now. This is personal, not work." She shrugged; pulling her hair from the ponytail holder.

"It was never work when I was taking care of ya. It never was and never will be. This has always been personal. Do ya understand?" He narrowed his crystal blues on her deep greens, watching the pretty color flush her tanned face.

"Yes, AJ." She nodded; clutching his shirt to her chest.

"I will leave ya to your shower. I have ta go pick up my kids from my folks' house and when I get back we'll start dinner. Make yourself at home." He cupped her cheeks in his palms, placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, and winked at her when he pulled the door closed behind him.

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Dean kept silent after Seth questioned his motives for cheating on Katrina. He knew he wanted to answer but wasn't ready yet. So he sent him off to the shower to clean up while Seth picked up the stray clothes, shoes and debris of broken furniture.

Tossing everything out in the front yard with the rest of Kat's ruined belongings, he made a call to have someone come by, pick up everything and cart it off. The two men arrived while Dean was still in the bathroom; driving a truck and towing a trailer behind it.

Seth paid them two hundred in cash and told them to keep an eye out for jewelry amongst the pile that they could keep. He didn't think Kat would mind since she abandoned everything in favor of leaving the emotional disaster behind her.

By the time Dean emerged from the bathroom, Seth had a few sandwiches made, a couple of Gatorades and a first aid kit sitting on the kitchen table.

"Sit and eat while I clean up this mess that used to be your face." He nudged the chair next to him out with his foot and hid his smile when Dean complied. "That Irishman is dangerous when he wants to be." He frowned; leaning in to examine Dean's injuries.

"I feel fortunate that he isn't the size of Sheamus." Dean mumbled while he chewed a bite of his sandwich.

"Don't count your chickens yet, brother. Sheamus likes her and doesn't care much for you so it is still a possibility that he'll kick your ass too." Seth chuckled; applying some antibiotic cream to a cut on his cheekbone.

"I'm more concerned about Rome."

"You should be." Seth squeezed some more cream out of the tube on to a Q-tip and smeared it on his eyebrow next. "I won't tell him because she asked me not to so I assume she won't either but if any of those guys says anything, well I wouldn't want to be you."

"I don't want to be me now, Seth." Dean said miserably; swallowing the last of his sandwich with some difficulty.

"Talk to me, man." Seth opened both Gatorades, pushed Dean's toward him and sat back.

"I got hit with all kinds of doubts about myself once I put that ring on her finger." He took a drink from his bottle, trying to rehydrate and ease the lump in his throat at the same time.

"What kind of doubts?" Seth prompted him, trying to move him along.

"I thought I'd fuck it all up. I never thought I was good enough for her in the first place."

"She did and that's all that matters." Seth said softly; his brown eyes showing compassion for his friend's turbulent thoughts. "You always had such a low opinion of yourself, Dean. I never understood why considering Rome and I love you like a brother. Hell, our families love you like a son. Katrina saw you for the special person that you keep hidden and loved you too. How could you not be good enough if she fell head over heels in love with you for who you really are?"

"I don't know. I just got so scared that we'd get married and she'd wake up someday and realize she made a horrible mistake." He placed his elbows on the table, running his hands back into his hair.

"I woke up in a cold sweat one night thinking that she left me, telling me that she can't believe she wasted her time on such a loser. I woke up another night almost screaming because she told me she was pregnant and decided to abort it because she couldn't bear to carry the child of a worthless, good for nothing man like me." He stared at the table, still holding his head between his hands with tears rolling unnoticed down his face.

"Dean, for fuck's sake." Seth had tears of his own spilling down his cheeks. It absolutely gutted him that his brother thought so poorly of himself. "Kat would never do that to you. You're not a loser or worthless and she'd never ever abort a child you made together."

"You know my upbringing, Seth, my less than stellar parents and questionable childhood."

"She's an orphan, Dean. She had no parents and you had shitty ones. I think that balances in the grand scheme of things. And she knew all about your past and didn't care." He leaned forward and pointed a hard finger at his friend. "She never looked at you like you were beneath her because she didn't think you were. That is your hang-up, not hers and you made her pay for it."

"I couldn't bring myself to leave her, Seth. I was selfish and couldn't leave her so I made her leave me now instead of later when we had more years of love between us." Dean folded his arms on the table and buried his face in them. It wasn't his thing to show this kind of weakness but he'd been doing it a lot lately.

"You should have talked to her; told her what was bothering you so she could reassure you or at least talked to me or Rome." Seth dragged a hand across his face, wiping off his tears while he leaned back in the chair. "That is what family does; what people who love each other do. They listen to your problems and tell you what you need to hear even if it isn't what you want to hear. In this case, brother, we would've told you that you had nothing to worry about. Katrina loved your faults just as much as your perfections." He sighed sadly; resting a comforting hand on top of his brother's head while he silently cried into his arms.

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"Kat! We're home!" AJ closed and locked the door behind them; handing off the boys' bags to them and carrying Anney's for her. "Go put your stuff away and come help me in the kitchen to prep the steaks and potatoes for the grill."

"Yes, Dad." Ajay ran off to his room; his eyes darting around for the woman his father told him about in the truck on the way home.

"Avery, Albey; you too. I'll help ya, peach." He told his daughter; carrying her bag in one hand and a few grocery bags in the other.

"Dad, the back door is open." Avery called over his shoulder while he walked through the dining area, passed the kitchen and down the hall towards his room.

"Is dat da lady?" Anney stopped at the open patio doors and pointed past the pool to the hammock AJ had set up between two sturdy trees in the yard.

"Yeah, that's her." AJ sighed with a smile on his face. "Looks like she's been swimming. Why don't you guys change into your suits? We can swim and eat outside on the patio."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head when he got cheers from his kids; letting his eyes linger on Kat for a second before he dropped the bags on the counter and then followed his daughter to her room.

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"Ya look relaxed." AJ smiled softly when Kat held up a hand to shield her eyes from the sun; stretching like a kitten in the hammock.

"I've never felt so content. I'm not joking." She interlaced her fingers behind her head and crossed her ankles; enjoying the slight breeze that kept the hammock swaying a bit. "Your house is beautiful. I didn't snoop though; I just backtracked through what we walked through when we arrived."

"I don't care if ya snoop, darlin." He waved her off. "I saw ya did our laundry and moved my empty bags to my room. Thank you."

"No thanks needed. I have to earn my keep around here and the clothes I have in my bags are all I have until we go shopping." She lost her smile for a second before shaking off whatever bad thoughts she had and forced herself to relax again.

"I saw the pool while I was carting clothes back and forth and couldn't resist taking a dip, and then look what I found." She actually giggled when he gripped the edge and rocked her back and forth. "I changed my mind. I can live here and just borrow the shower, tub and kitchen."

"It gets hot out here and unlike Vegas, the humidity is pure hell but you're welcome to make use of it anytime ya want. Now I don't mean to drag ya away from your little slice of heaven but I told my kids about ya and they're dying ta meet ya." He jerked his head over his shoulder and Kat peered around him to see the four kids waiting by the pool.

"Oh!" She bolted upright, reaching for Roman's tank by her calf until AJ snatched it up. "Shouldn't I cover up?"

"No." AJ let his eyes drift down her bikini-clad body, shaking his head. "I picked up some steaks for the grill and thought we could get some swimming in before we eat." He held his hand out, waiting for her to take it. "Ready ta face my spawn?"

"I'd love to." She took his hand, swinging her legs over the side of the hammock and took to her feet.

Without even thinking, AJ linked his fingers through Kat's; clutching her tank in his free hand while he escorted her to the pool and his waiting children.

Holding her hand, placing a hand on her back, the innocent little kisses he planted on her forehead and cheek, sharing a bed – it all came so naturally to him now that it required no thought, it just was.

"Katrina Masters, I'd like ya to meet the rest of the Styles' clan. This young man is my oldest, Ajay. This is my middle son, Avery. My youngest son is there on the far right, Albey, and this is my little peach, Anney." He placed a hand on each child's head when he introduced them, and moved back to stand beside Kat. "Kids, this is my friend from work – well, she's one of my bosses actually. This is Katrina Masters."

"Hello, Ma'am." The boys nodded their heads in greeting, whereas Anney walked forward, looked up at Katrina and tugged on her father's hand.

"She's very pwetty, Daddy."

Kat's cheeks turned beet red and a bright smile lit up her face before she knelt before the young girl.

"Thank you. I think you're very pretty too and you may call me Kat; all of you." She darted her eyes to the boys. "So shall we cannonball into the pool while your dad gets the grill started?" The boys smiled; excitedly nodding their heads.

Kat and the boys lined up, ran and jumped into the pool; emerging and laughing until she noticed Anney standing there, holding her father's hand with a trembling lip.

"Are you ready to cannonball, sweetheart?" She asked the girl who shook her head sadly.

"I can't. I'm too small."

"Sure you can but only with me or your daddy. Do you promise you'll only do it with me or your daddy helping you?"

"I pomise." Anney nodded eagerly, glancing up at her father for his nod of approval. Once she had it she turned her bright eyes back to Kat.

"Now take a few steps back and run to me but hold your breath before you jump, okay?"

"Okay." She quietly counted down from three and ran to Kat, jumping from the edge of the pool. The woman easily caught the young girl and submerged them briefly in the water before resurfacing with her in her arms.

"You did it!"

"I did it, Daddy!"

"Yeah, ya did, peach!" AJ couldn't help the smile on his face. His kids took to Kat just as easily as he and his brothers did. He caught her eye and mouthed 'thank you' to her before he wandered over to the grill to get it fired up.

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"How's your steak? Ya did say ya liked 'em rare."

AJ couldn't keep his eyes off of Kat throughout the day. His eyes were riveted to her bikini-clad figure while he grilled their meal, smiling fondly at how attentive she was to his kids, and felt a pang in his heart when he saw how they clung to her while they played in the pool.

When he called out that supper was ready, he had to readjust his shorts from the sight of the water caressing her skin while it ran down her curves. He felt like a bit of an asshole though when she carried Anney out of the water, wishing he was pressed against her breasts like his daughter.

A sense of melancholy went through him when he remembered that she had her own room and wouldn't be beside him in his bed tonight.

'Think about it later, AJ.' He shook it off and warmth filled his chest when he watched her towel-dry the boys' hair, handed over their towels and sent them over to the table while she tended to Anney. 'My peach knows how to pick 'em.' He chuckled softly when his little girl insisted that Kat wrap her towel around her waist like hers was.

He kept silent through most of the meal unless he was directly addressed and filled the small bits of silence his kids allowed with questions on whether she needed anything. He was well aware he was acting like a teenage boy with a crush but he couldn't help it.

"It is delicious, AJ. It is perfectly cooked and so tender I barely need a knife." She moaned while she spoke; her eyes slipping closed in delight when she took another bite, and he felt his cock harden once again in his shorts.

"I'm glad ya like it, darlin." He cleared his throat, awkwardly shifting in his chair while she was focused on having oral sex with her steak.

The boys covered his dilemma by bombarding her with questions about being their daddy's boss and who among the roster she liked best and least.

"Brock Lesnar?" Ajay called out his choice.

"Ew, no, I don't like him. Aside from thinking he's the best thing to walk the planet, he's a part-timer and I hate that he's given preferential treatment just because he used to be something once upon a time." Kat pulled a face and shuddered just thinking about the man.

"Roman Reigns!" Avery shouted eagerly.

"Roman is like a brother to me and one of my dearest friends. The next time your daddy brings you to a show, I'll introduce you. He'd love to meet you." She shifted her eyes to AJ when he scoffed but continued to smile at the boy.

"Undertaker? Is he nice?" Albey asked with a cocked head and big, inquisitive eyes.

"He's a big puppy and he loves kids." She ruffled his hair before glancing at AJ when his cell began to ring.

"It's Seth." He read off the screen and handed it across the table to Kat. "He's not calling for me." He shrugged; lips pressed in a tight seam.

"Hey Pup! Will you hold on for a moment?" She asked upon answering; nodding her head and stood up from her seat. "I'm going to take this over there." She forced a smile and darted her eyes at the kids, taking in AJ's nod of understanding.

"We're gonna finish up here and I'm gonna put the kids down for the night." AJ smiled back; knowing she was bound to lose the light these past few hours brought to her eyes once Seth was done delivering whatever news he had about Dean.

"I'll be back to help with the dishes. You just worry about getting these crazy kids in bed." She chuckled when Albey giggled when she tickled his side. "Good night, guys."

"Good night, Kat."

"Night, Ms Kat."

"Good night! Don't forget to introduce me to Roman Reigns!" Avery shouted out when she made her way towards the pool.

"Wait!" Anney called out, hopped out of her chair and ran to Kat, wrapping her arms around her legs. "Night, pwetty kitty." She mumbled into the towel around Kat's thighs.

AJ's heart melted in his chest watching his little girl hug Katrina like that and couldn't help the sigh of contentment when she crouched down and returned the hug, kissing his youngest on her forehead.

"Off to bed with you, young lady. I need you up to help me cook breakfast in the morning." Kat grinned at the girl, gave her an about-face and ushered her back to her father.

"I'll be weddy!"

"I like her, Dad." Ajay turned a smile to his father; their matching eyes shining at each other.

"I do too, kid."

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She was somber and quiet again once she finished the call, just like he knew she would be. How he wished that she could catch a break from the drama of her split with Ambrose. Granted they had just recently split but the guy was sure stacking on the bullshit.

They washed the dishes in relative silence; AJ interrupting it with random comments about the kids and what they usually did on his days off. He managed to get a laugh out of her when he suggested a trip to the mall but begged her help keeping track of the kids.

Before long they were standing in front of her door and AJ found a pair of big green eyes staring up at him. They had shared a bed for almost two weeks now and it felt weird to both of them to sleep alone but neither of them wanted to confuse the kids if they happened to walk into one of their rooms.

"I guess I'll see you in the morning." His hands instinctively settled on her waist, pulling her a step closer to him. "Night, darlin." He kissed the top of her head, letting his cheek settle against her hair for a moment before he took a step back.

"Good night, AJ."

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AJ tossed and turned in bed for over two hours before he heard a soft knock on his bathroom door, and a second later, Kat cracked open the door to peer at him. She looked nervous shifting her weight between her feet.

"I can't sleep without you."

"I'm not doing so good without ya either." He scooted over and lifted the sheet, jerking his head to his side. "Come on." She crossed from the door to his bed, wearing the tank he gave her earlier, and crawled in next to him. "That's better." He sighed in relief, lowering the sheet over her and accepted her warmth against his side.

"It is." She whispered; her lips brushing the skin along his ribs when she settled her head on his chest.

"Get some sleep, baby." He clenched his eyes at the change of endearment but she didn't seem to notice or mind. He could feel her release a breath and relax in his embrace until she eventually drifted off. He followed not long after, holding her close.

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