Confused

Punk headed up to the maternity unit and sat in the waiting room until any news was brought to him. He knew it must have taken a lot of courage for AJ to tell him everything she had, but a part of him wish she hadn't. He knew he would resent her if she kept it from him for even longer, but it really wasn't something he wanted constantly on his mind.

He could understand her thought process and why she had decided to have an abortion back then. She was so young and had such a great career ahead of her. He wouldn't have gotten angry about it even if he'd stayed and she wanted to do it. It was her body and her life, and he supported her decision. It was sad of course, to think of what could have been, but he understood why she done it.

However, her being pregnant right now, and actually having a baby- he honestly found her telling him that harder than her telling him about the abortion. It was a symbol of total disconnection. A symbol that they could never be the same again, like he'd planned and hoped.

Maybe he should have just stayed in Arizona. Perhaps it would have been a little more difficult, but then again, nothing was going to be as difficult as watching the woman he loved care for a child that was someone else's.

He felt completely torn as to what to even say or do. Did he just forget about her and try to move on? Clearly she was moving on to other things. Or did he commit to something he didn't really want to? Did he step up and tell her it didn't matter if she was having someone else's baby, even though it did matter? Was his love that strong for her that he just had to have her, regardless? He had no idea what to do. For the first time in his life he didn't have a definite plan.

Just as he was in his thoughts, Seth approached him as he walked down the hall, causing him to put his thoughts aside for a moment, standing up for good news as Seth smiled.

"You wanna come see your nephew?" Seth smiled as Punk laughed a little with a smile.

"Congratulations, man." Punk nodded, embracing his friend, "How is Clara, is she alright?" He asked as they walked down the hall.

"She's great." Seth said to his own surprise, "Gotta say, I felt a little intimidated." He admitted as Punk smiled, both of them reaching the nursery where all the newborn babies were, "First row in, third to the left." Seth said as Punk looked at the baby through the glass with a smile.

"Man, he's perfect." Punk said, "What'd you name him?" He asked.

"TJ." Seth said, looking around and noticing AJ had gone, "Hey, where is AJ?" He asked Punk.

"Still at the cafeteria I think." Punk said, still staring on at his nephew with a smile, "So when do I get a hold?" He asked.

"Doctor said they'd bring him round to the room once they got Clara set up in recovery." Seth said as Punk just nodded, "Did you talk to AJ or-"

"Yeah, we talked." Punk nodded, "We talked alright." He sighed as Seth nodded.

"So… she told you, huh?" Seth asked as Punk turned to him.

"You knew?"

"Clara just told me earlier on today." Seth said truthfully, "Are you alright?" He asked.

"I was. I mean… it's not like she got rid of the baby because she didn't want it. She had reasons. Valid reasons and I really understood where she was coming from. I thought maybe her telling me would bring us closer together, and then… then she goes and tells me she's pregnant right now." He shook his head.

"I don't think the dad is gonna be involved. It's not like you have that to worry about." Seth said.

"It's not just that though, is it? It's her having someone else's kid. She didn't want our baby but she wants this one?" He said, "Doesn't that seem weird to you?"

"Well, not really. Yeah maybe having a baby with you would have been more logical that having a baby with a man she has no intention of seeing or being with. But she had her reasons back then and she has reasons now. She's stable now. She's got good money. She's older. She knows she has me and Clara to depend on, especially with us having TJ now." He said.

"I know… I know but still… I mean, it's so hard to read her now. Does she want to be alone? Has she just got used to it now? Or does she want to let me back in."

"I don't know. I think Clara is the only one who can read her." Seth said truthfully, "And no offence, but she's gonna have her hands full now, at least for these next few months." Seth said, "I don't want her being in the middle of you two anymore. I think that's why she went into labour early."

"I know." Punk sighed, "I know, it's between me and AJ. I get that. But she's changed, man. She's not that bubbly, funny, sweet girl I knew back then."

"She will be." Seth said, "You just gotta help her find herself."

"And this baby she's having?" Punk said as Seth just sighed.

"Like I said, this isn't no ones business but you and AJ's." He said as Punk just nodded, suddenly remembering, in the chaos of everything, he'd forgotten to tell Seth that Dean had come back.

"Dean's back." Punk turned to Seth who raised his eyebrows, "He collapsed into my house beaten up." Punk said, "You didn't happen to know he's now a drug addict, dealer, enthusiast, whatever… did you?" Punk raised his eyebrows as Seth just turned away, "Seth!"

"What? I tried helping him and he threw it back in my face." Seth said, "I've been worried sick about him. Thank god he's alright." Seth admitted.

"And you also didn't happen to know he liked AJ when me and her were dating, did you?" Punk raised his eyebrows. He knew there was more Seth and Clara weren't telling him about Dean, he assumed it was all of this.

"So he told you?" Seth asked as Punk nodded.

"Seems to be over her now anyway. Got himself a girlfriend."

"She on drugs too?" Seth shook his head.

"He didn't mention." Punk said, "We need to get him help. He's in debt. I'll try and get him the money so he can get himself out. Then he can focus on weaning himself off it all." Punk said.

"Yeah? Well when I tried that he just threw it all back in my face, used the money I gave him to pay his debt off to get more bags for himself." Seth said, "I don't know if I'd risk giving him so much money, especially in the state he's in." Seth said.

"C'mon, man. We can't just do nothing. He's our best friend." Punk said, "I don't care if I have to lock him up and give this money to these dealers myself." Punk said as Seth just nodded, meanwhile a proud grandfather approached them with interest.

"Where is he?" Jack said, practically squeezing himself in between Punk and Seth, knocking them both away, "Where is he?" He asked Seth.

"First row, third to the left." Seth said.

"Bit small." Jack tilted his head as Punk rolled his eyes, "His name?"

"TJ." Seth said as Jack turned to him.

"I thought the first grandson was supposed to be named after one of the grandfathers." He said, turning to Punk who just shook his head, "No?"

"No." Seth said, "His name is TJ. Actually, his name is TJ Phil Rollins-Brooks." Seth said as Punk smiled to himself.

"Rollins-Brooks? I thought it was going to be Brooks-Rollins? Or just Brooks?" Jack said.

"Can you ever just take a good moment and roll with it without saying anything?" Punk asked his father who ignored him and looked back through the glass at baby TJ.

"He's a cute little thing." Jack admitted, "And Clara? How is she?" He turned around to Seth.

"She's good. Their moving her to recovery just now." He said.

"Good." Jack nodded, "I can't wait to have a hold." He admitted as Seth smiled, looking across at Punk who had his arms folded like a child glaring at his father.

"Well..." Seth said, "First come, first serve. Uncle Phil gets a hold first." Seth said as Punk smiled, suddenly watching Seth's features change, looking past Punk causing Punk to turn around, seeing AJ walk down the corridor.

"Jack, why don't you go see if they've moved Clara into her room yet? The reception is just around the corner." Seth said as Jack headed off around the corner just as AJ approached them with a polite smile.

"Which one is he?" She asked Seth who pointed TJ out to her, "Oh, he's perfect. Congratulations." She smiled to Seth who just nodded.

"Yeah, he's a looker." Seth smiled proudly, "TJ. That's his name." Seth said as AJ smiled.

"I love it." AJ smiled, looking through the glass at the baby and smiling.

"I'm gonna go make sure your dad isn't threatening members of staff or anything along those lines." Seth looked over to Punk, leaving him and AJ alone and walking off round the corner.

"He's precious." AJ said, looking up at Punk who nodded.

"Well. At least you don't have to wait long until you have one of your own." He said a little smugly as she glared up at him.

"You know what… being angry and upset over the abortion, I can understand, but being angry and upset about me having a baby right now, which has nothing to do with you, isn't right." She said.

"Has nothing to do with me? You keep saying that like we're never gonna-" He paused, looking down at her, "What do you see when you look at me? Because if all you see is some guy you used to love, then I'll leave you alone, April. I will." He said as she just turned away, "Why is it so hard for you to admit you still have feelings for me?" He asked her. He knew she still did. It was so obvious.

"Because it's been so long." She whispered, "And I'm having a baby, and I'm not sure if I can trust you again after you leaving the last time."

"I think I learned my lesson." He said, "And I don't plan on leaving anytime soon. I realised what I'd lost the minute I stepped off that plane seven years ago. If I could go back I would, and I would have stayed." He said.

"I don't know." AJ shook her head, "I'm just… I'm so confused."

"About what, April?" Punk asked her frustratedly.

"I don't know, Phil." AJ replied angrily, "I just… I don't know what I want. And besides, I didn't think you'd be interested in me anymore now I'm having someone else's baby." She said.

"That's besides the point here. I'm talking about me and you."

"It won't just be me and you though, will it?" She said, "Really ask yourself if it is me you want, or has time just told you it is."

"You're all I've ever wanted. Since the minute I laid eyes on you. Nothing has changed since then." He told her.

"Well things have changed for me." AJ said, "I've put this guard up that I'm frightened to take down incase I get hurt again."

"That isn't gonna happen." He said.

"It's just gonna take me some time to figure it all out." She told him. She knew it was frustrating for him, but what was it he planned on actually having with her anyway? She was going to be having a baby soon. One which was not his. Why would he want to stick around?

"Well I tell you what, AJ." Punk said, "You just let me know when you've done deciding. It's not like we've been apart for seven years or anything. A little bit of waiting won't change anything." He said hastily, beginning to walk away as she called him back.

"You were the one who left!" She shouted, but he just kept walking, disappearing around the corner as she sighed, turning her head and looking around at baby TJ. She was gonna be here in a few months time, and it looked like she was gonna be alone.

A/N: Looks like AJ doesn't know what she wants, and neither does Punk. Let me know what you guys think! REVIEW!