Cancelling Out Worry

"I wish I unbuttoned my pants before we left." AJ moaned, walking down the strip of restaurants and bars with Punk later on in the night once they'd finished with dinner. They'd pushed everything to the back of their minds and enjoyed their night out. Just the one night off from cooking dinner for the girls, doing bath time, putting them to bed, it made a world of difference. It was healthy.

"Unbutton them now." Punk shrugged.

"No, there's way too many people around." AJ shook her head, holding his hand, walking close to him as he just smiled.

"You know, for someone who would… stand up in court and defend pretty bad people, you really do your best to avoid eye contact with all the creepers out smoking." He noticed as she shrugged.

"Attorney or not, a creeper is a creeper." She said as he nodded, "It's not as bad here as Chicago was." She said.

"Oh, yeah. Definitely. My whole childhood was just… sirens." He laughed to himself as AJ nodded.

"It was kinda like that in Puerto Rico too." AJ nodded, "Dad gave us all a baseball bat each to hide under our beds." She shook her head, "Now I have kids I just… I realise how fucked up my childhood was." She said, "The things I remember my parents saying to me… I would never dream of saying to the girls." She said, "Puts it into perspective."

"Yeah." Punk agreed, "Well I… didn't even have a dad so… everything I do is new to me." He said as she looked up at him.

"You didn't know your dad at all, did you?" AJ asked.

"No, not really. He split when I was… four or five I think." Punk nodded, "The more I grew up, the more I told myself it was my mom he was running from but… I guess if he cared about me, he would have maybe taken me with him." He said, "I know he was a drunk but… I think he had a decent head on his shoulders, if that's possible." He said.

"What about Cami's dad? Wasn't he like a step-dad to you then?" AJ asked him.

"No, not really. Him and my mom were on and off, and I would crash at Dean's place all the time because I just… I was either left on my own or my mom was just out of control." Punk nodded, "He was a drunk too, drug addict, split as soon as he found out she was pregnant." Punk shrugged, "Mom sure knew how to pick them." He shook his head.

"You think if your mom got… the medical help she needs, she'd be a better mom?" AJ asked him.

"Maybe." Punk shrugged, "But selfishly, I wasn't gonna be the kid who took care of their parents from… you know, the age of five or whatever. I took care of my sister as it was. I… I didn't have the time to babysit my mom too. And she just never gave me a chance either. Or she'd steal shit from me, spread lies, try and get me kicked out of the academy. Bipolar or not… she was just a rotten human being." Punk nodded, "I have my own family. It's not her. It never was." He shrugged as she squeezed his hand tighter.

"I wonder if Matthew is still alive." AJ shook her head, "The girls have probably… dressed him up, painted his nails, made him watch Trolls ten times and sent him into a corner crying." She said.

"They're harmless." Punk laughed, "And I hope they're not worrying about… me apparently going away." He shook his head.

"No, I told them not to worry, that it wasn't true. They seemed fine after." AJ nodded, "Jo was… very relieved. Said she couldn't live without her daddy." She smiled up at him.

"She's sweet." Punk nodded with a smile. There was something about being needed, being loved, being depended on, that gave him a lot of purpose, that made him want to be the best he could be for his family.

"She is." AJ said, "And she's spooked by the tree house now. Refuses to go back on it and play since she fell." AJ said.

"She'll get back on. She's too impatient." Punk said, "Just give her a bit of time with it." He said as AJ nodded.

"Did Seth say he would call you back?" AJ asked him.

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "He said he would let me know about Jason's whereabouts since he got out of prison, and that Jamie, as far as he knew, was still out of town. I mean… maybe he's moved on and found himself a life. It's been three years." He shrugged as AJ nodded, "We shouldn't be in their view point right now." He said.

"I know but… we could be." AJ said, "I just want us to be safe. I don't want them… showing up at our door one night." She shook her head with fear.

"That's not gonna happen." Punk shook his head as AJ sighed.

"Wish things could just be a lot simpler." AJ nodded, resting her head against his arm as they walked down the street.

"They can be." He nodded, "I know you worry. I do too but… a lot of time has gone by." He said as she nodded.

"I know." AJ said, "And I know we have people helping us and being there for us." AJ nodded, "Maybe we need a vacation." She shook her head as he smiled and nodded.

"We say this once a month." He chuckled.

"I know but… being serious." AJ said, "Maybe we could go to Puerto Rico for the week." She shrugged, "It might settle my nerves, just getting away for a little bit." She said, "And it's pretty ridiculous that... I have two children with you and my parents still haven't met you." AJ shook her head.

"So you think… the best way to destress yourself is by going to Puerto Rico to see your mom? The one person in the world who stresses you out the most?" He smiled as she shoved him and shook her head.

"We wouldn't be staying in their house or anything." AJ said, "I don't know, it… it's weird that you've never met them. We've gone through so much. We've been married, divorced, two kids, back together, all this crazy stuff and… my parents still haven't had a conversation with you." She said as Punk nodded.

"I never thought you… you cared about your parents." Punk admitted truthfully.

"Of course I care." AJ said, "I wish they cared more of course but… maybe it'll take my mind off of everything." She shrugged, "And the girls would love to see Dominic. He only ever visits at Christmas and occasionally their birthdays." AJ said.

"What about Cami? I said I would visit her. I want to be there for her right now." Punk nodded.

"It'll only be a week. And you said Seth was coming up to see her for a few days." AJ said, "We could do with the break." AJ nodded.

"Jessica has just gone back to school." Punk said as AJ looked at him.

"You're throwing an awful lot of excuses at me. Is someone nervous?" AJ smiled.

"No." Punk scoffed.

"I can write a letter to Jessica's teacher." AJ nodded, "I'm sure it won't be a huge problem." She said, "I can get the time off work I'm sure." She said.

"This isn't you wanting to escape or anything, is it?" Punk asked, "Cause we will have to come back." He smiled as she nodded.

"I know that." AJ said, "I just… think we need a break, this would be the perfect time." She nodded, "And I do want my parents to have at least met you once in their lives." She shook her head as Punk smiled and nodded.

"Ok." Punk nodded as she looked up at him. He couldn't help jump at the idea, even though meeting her parents sounded like the scariest thing in the world. The idea of a break, sitting in the sun for a week, relaxing and taking their mind off of things sounded great, "We'll look at flights when we get home." Punk said as she smiled and nodded.

"How were they?" AJ asked, taking her coat off, getting home where Matthew had already put the girls to sleep.

"They were no problem." Matthew shook his head, "They made me watch that Troll movie. Well Jo did, Jessica was playing on her game thing." He nodded, "It was an ok movie." He shrugged as AJ and Punk smiled.

"Welcome to our world." Punk nodded.

"Did they eat dinner?" AJ asked.

"Yeah. I made burgers." He said, "They liked them." He nodded, "You guys have a nice night?" He asked them.

"Yeah, we did." AJ smiled, "It was nice to get out. Thanks for watching the girls. We're not… we're not used to the help." She said as Matthew nodded.

"Hey, it was no problem. They're sweet as hell." Matthew nodded as AJ smiled.

"We're actually thinking about coming to Puerto Rico for a week. We need the break and… maybe it's about time Phil meets my parents." AJ nodded as Matthew raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, really?" He smiled, "Good luck with that, her parents are crazy." He nodded to Punk as AJ scoffed.

"No they're not. They're just… different." AJ shrugged, "We need the break more than anything."

"Yeah, I get it." Matthew nodded, "Dom will be thrilled."

"I know. The girls love seeing him, and they don't get to see him enough." AJ said as Matthew nodded, "I'm gonna go get out of this dress." She said, leaving the living room as Punk smiled. He was glad they had gotten out for the night. It gave them a chance to talk to one another, to assure the other that things would be ok, to know and realise they had each other.

"You couldn't hang around here and be babysitter every night, could you?" Punk asked as Matthew smiled and shook his head.

"Hey, I love the girls but… I like giving them back to you." Matthew nodded as Punk just smiled.

"How you been? You know with… getting out of prison? Not an easy ride." Punk shook his head.

"No." Matthew agreed, "Definitely not. Super overwhelming. It's like… life has resumed again and I can finally breathe." He nodded.

"Yeah, it's a lot to take in, huh?" Punk nodded.

"Yeah, for sure." Matthew nodded, "Did you tell AJ about… all of the stuff with Jason in prison? I mean I know she knows about Mark and what went down but-"

"Yeah, she knows. I gradually told her." Punk said, "And she… she saw the scars so… wasn't much I could hide." He nodded, "Yeah it wasn't easy for us. A lot of ups and downs when I got out. Back and forth but… moving here, making a home here it… it's really helped us. We've been happy. Happiest we've been in a long time." Punk nodded.

"Yeah, you guys look happy." Matthew smiled, "No point in sweating over that prick. He's one guy. You got friends and family around you, whether they're here or Chicago." He nodded, "Don't be afraid."

"We're trying." Punk nodded, "Maybe going to Puerto Rico will help. Maybe worrying about meeting her parents will cancel out worrying about Jason." He said as Matthew smiled.

"Her parents are nice they just… they live on another planet sometimes. Her dad is… super protective too. I know it wouldn't seem it because they aren't close but… growing up… I can't remember the amount of times he made me and Dom go beat up kids for just looking at April wrong." Matthew said.

"What are you trying to do to me, man?" Punk groaned as Matthew chuckled.

"Hey, it'll be fine. I got a feeling they'll like you." Matthew said, "Her mom is… a little overbearing, little paranoid but… she means well." He nodded.

"It feels so stupid that I haven't even met them yet and I have two kids with their daughter." Punk shook his head.

"That won't matter to them. They'll just be glad to meet you." Matthew said.

"Well here's hoping." Punk groaned to himself as Matthew laughed a little.

"Hey you can always escape and come find me and Dom." Matthew patted him on the back.

"I'll remember that." Punk nodded as Matthew smiled.