PI

"Look… look… she's curling her hands." AJ smiled, not being able to sit on the couch since she got in, to busy staring over the crib where Colby lay asleep in the living room.

"You need to rest." Punk came up behind her, taking her softly by the shoulders and guiding her over to the couch. They'd just got home from the hospital and were now attempting to settle down into life with a new baby.

"She's just so beautiful." AJ sighed whilst sitting down on the couch.

"I know, trust me." Punk smiled, "What you fancy for dinner tonight?" He asked her whilst flicking through the TV channels. He hoped they could still fit into their normal routine. How much change could a tiny baby possibly make to their life when thinking about it literally?

"I don't know. Let's just order in." She shrugged as he sat back on the couch, giving her access to curl into him, "It's weird not having a big belly anymore." She admitted. Her dainty small figure had returned in just a few days. She still felt a little on the sluggish side, but as far as her health and body went, she was doing great. Which was all Punk needed to hear.

"It is sorta weird." Punk admitted, "But I think I like her out your belly better than in it."

"Oh, trust me. So do I." AJ chuckled, "Did you ever picture your life going in this direction when we met each other in that bar?" She looked up at him.

"Not really." Punk said truthfully, "But now… it seems like this was all meant to happen." He nodded, "I always had a crush on you anyway." He said as she grinned.

"When I was twelve?" She giggled a little as he scoffed.

"I mean… maybe fourteen, fifteen." He said as she smiled, "I felt like I knew you in a different way from everyone else." He said, "Everyone thought you were weird, quiet… troubled." He said as AJ just nodded.

"Seems right." AJ said with an accepting sigh.

"I didn't." He said, "I knew there was more to you." He smiled, "Didn't think I'd end up having a baby with you in the future but… everything happens for a reason." He said. He truly believed that.

"You wouldn't change anything?" She asked him curiously.

"Nothing." Punk said, "Although, I don't know… I think I'd go back and not get with your best friend." He admitted awkwardly as AJ laughed a little.

"Well that wasn't really anything serious, was it?" She shrugged, "I was pushing you away. I didn't expect you to want to be around me." She said.

"I know but… it would have been a little better if it was some other girl." He said, "Every time I see Paige I just get the impression she hates me."

"Why would she hate you?" AJ shook her head, "She told me back then that she was over it anyway and you two didn't really have much going anyway." She looked up at him.

"I know but… it still happened." He said.

"Well it's in the past." AJ shrugged, "We've all moved on."

"I know." Punk smiled, kissing her head, peeping over to see Colby, smiling upon the baby girl fast asleep, "Pizza?" He turned to AJ who nodded.

"Sounds good." AJ smiled.

"Where do you think Punk wants these?" Dean questioned, stocking some comic books on the shelves of Punk's new store with Seth. They didn't mind helping out Punk extra these next few weeks. The man just had a baby after all. It also wasn't much of a big ask, it was just stocking some comic books.

"Over at the original section." Seth pointed as Dean headed on over to stock the bundle of comics he had in his hands, "Seeing Cora tonight?" He asked as Dean nodded.

"Yeah… she's cooking tonight. She makes good food." Dean nodded as Seth smiled, "Hey, you should stop by if you aren't doing anything. She always makes tons anyway." He said.

"Oh, no… I don't wanna intrude on you guys." Seth insisted.

"It's not intruding." Dean laughed, "I don't suppose you have better things to do with your night." He raised his eyebrows as Seth just scoffed.

"Alright, fine." Seth nodded, "Did you hear Punk yesterday at the hospital?" Seth asked as Dean just shook his head, "Said AJ overheard him talking to me about marriage. Remember that day we went to help with the nursery and he went off on how much he doesn't want to get married?" He asked.

"Oh shit." Dean remembered, "She heard?"

"Apparently she heard all of it." Seth nodded, "I don't think it's starting world war three or anything but he said she asked him about it and he had to shut her down." He said.

"Why is he so against it?" Dean shook his head, "Obviously he loves her. They have a baby… why is it such a big deal to him?"

"It's just his opinions. We should respect it." Seth shrugged, "Maybe he'll give in soon anyway. Maybe he's just being stubborn."

"He thinks that if he marries her it's gonna then start to fall apart… which, I don't know why he thinks that." Dean said.

"Maybe he thinks what happened to his parents might happen." Seth said.

"What? Him taking a gun to her and Colby? Do you really see that happening?" Dean scoffed.

"Well… maybe not exactly, but he might just have his doubts." Seth shrugged, "It's none of our business regardless." He said as Dean just nodded.

"I'm betting they get married anyway. They're way too in love not to. And that's coming from me." Dean said.

"We'll see." Seth said, "Punk sounded pretty adamant to me."

"Whatever." Dean shrugged. Like Seth said, wasn't really their business, "C'mon let's get this stuff finished and lock up."

Later on that night, after Punk and AJ ordered in, they settled down into bed for their first night at home with the baby. Colby had been such a good little soul. She was feeding right and mostly just sleeping, letting out just the odd cry. Normally when she did cry though, she'd drift straight back to sleep.

"I think the house feels warmer with her in it, don't you think?" AJ asked, laying in bed with Punk, curled into his naked chest whilst the TV in the corner lit up the room, the sound turned down quietly so not to wake baby Colby.

"It does." Punk agreed. He knew what she meant. Something about Colby being here made the place complete. Like she was definitely meant to be here, "You'll be alright if I just pop out for an hour or so tomorrow. Just to check on the store." Punk said as AJ nodded.

"Sure." AJ smiled up at him, "She's just sleeping all day anyway. I think we'll be fine." She said, turning around and looking on at Colby with a smile, "She really looks like you." She said.

"Nah, she's all you. All gorgeous." He said as she smiled, "Apart from the eyes… those are my eyes." He nodded. He was even shocked at how much his eyes were identical to his daughter's. He was hoping she'd have her mother's big brown innocent eyes, but she was gorgeous either way.

"Are you still thinking about her… possibly having bipolar disorder?" She asked casually, looking up at him as he just shook his head casually.

"Haven't even thought twice." Punk said, "She's our baby girl. I guess it took me a little while to realise that, but… whether she has it or not, we're always gonna love her. I know that. And we'll help her. She won't be left alone to deal with it, the way you were or your mom was. She'll have us and she'll have the right medication ready for her. She won't have to suffer." Punk said, "I won't let her."

"You're such a good dad." She curled into him even tighter. She was so glad the father of her baby girl was him. Not only did she love him very much, and always had done from a very young age, but he was so selfless in a way that he would already do absolutely anything for Colby.

"I've only been one for a few days." Punk chuckled a little.

"That doesn't matter." AJ shook her head, "She's gonna love you." She smiled contentedly.

"You say that as if she's gonna hate you." Punk said, "She's gonna love us both." He said.

"I know but… she's gonna be a daddy's girl. I could bet my life on it." She said. She just knew it was bound to happen.

"As far as I'm concerned that's a good thing. The closer she is to me, the closer I can keep an eye on her." He said.

"Well… right now, I don't think she's gonna be wandering off anywhere. Let's just enjoy the silence." She smiled as he nodded, holding her tightly into his chest whilst they watched the quiet TV comfortably, and then suddenly AJ wanted to talk again, "So can we talk about the marriage thing now?" She whispered as he looked down at her.

"I don't see what there is to talk about." He shrugged, "I just… don't want to get married, April. I think the commitment itself weakens the relationship." He said as AJ just scoffed.

"Listen to yourself." She said. In a way, Colby being present in the room made sure that this didn't turn into a fight, "Give me a real reason why you don't want to get married." She said.

"That is one of my reasons." Punk said, "I just… don't think it's necessary." He said, "Why is it you want to get married? You tell me that then." He said as she sat up.

"I could go on for days." AJ chuckled a little as Punk sat waiting, "Alright… number one, I love you. Is that a good start? I love you… therefore one day, yeah, I'd like to get married, and take your name, and say to everyone my husband this and my husband that. I wanna have… men look at me when I'm at a bar with Cora or Paige, and have them see my wedding rings and think, well she's taken-"

"Men look at you in bars?" Punk raised his eyebrows as AJ rolled her eyes.

"I want to wear a wedding dress and feel like a princess in it. I want to vow to love you no matter what we have to go through together. I want you to make love to me on our wedding night as my husband. As the only man I'll ever be with ever again." She said, "Do I really have to go on, Phil?" She asked tiredly, "It's not overrated. It happens because people fall in love. Do you think falling in love is overrated?"

"No." Punk said.

"Then what is your problem?" AJ said.

"I'm scared… alright." Punk said.

"Scared of what?" AJ shook her head.

"Of making all these promises. What if I let you down?"

"Are you supposed to feel different if you let me down when we're married compared to now?" She asked.

"Well it's a bigger deal." He said, "Look, it's just the way my mind works."

"I wanna respect your opinion, but… I just don't understand it." She shook her head, "Don't you want to one day look across to me and realise that I'm yours and I'll only ever be yours, until we're really old and ugly." She said as Punk smiled a little.

"Of course I do." Punk sighed.

"Then what's the problem?" AJ asked, kneeling up and taking his hand in hers, "We have a baby. I'd say that's more challenging than a marriage. If we can do that, we can do anything." She said.

"You really want to get married, don't you?" Punk suddenly noticed. The way she spoke about it, how much she wanted it, how much she wanted to be his wife. He almost felt bad for making her explain it all, and not realising it on his own.

"Yeah, I do." AJ nodded, "Not right now. Of course not right now. But one day, yeah. I would." AJ nodded as he just smiled. Maybe he was being selfish, stubborn and everything in between, but he did have his own reasons, yet seeing how passionate she was about wanting to get married was somehow changing his perspective a little.

"Let's just… take it one day at a time." He said, "We have a few day old baby that needs all our attention. There's time to talk about marriage." He told her as she just nodded.

That was all she wished for. For him to consider it. For it to be on his mind. She didn't want him to shut it down completely, yet she wasn't asking for a ring right at this moment. All she wanted was for him to think about it all in a different light. He was right. Right now, everything was about them becoming new parents and taking care of their beautiful baby girl. Everything else came after her.

"What are you doing here so late again?" Anderson asked his daughter as Paige walked into the station.

"I was just… on my way to work. Thought I'd stop by." Paige smiled.

"Night shift, huh?" Anderson asked as Paige nodded, watching her father rush around his office.

"And I wanted to ask you a few questions." Paige admitted.

"Alright, shoot. Quickly. Before I head on out." Anderson said whilst collecting his files up.

"Well… you know a PI? That has nothing to do with you guys at the station right?"

"Not us right here but yeah, they're normally to do with attorneys in civil and criminal cases. Why?" Anderson raised his eyebrows.

"Just curious." Paige shrugged, "So… anyone could hire one with a… a valid reason? And nothing gets said."

"Well it all depends."

"On what?" Paige asked.

"On who or what it is you want them to investigate." Anderson said.

"What if it was to open up a case that was already open years ago?" Paige asked, "Generally speaking." She added casually.

"Depends again. If it's a criminal uncaught then it's a little risky. If it's something simple that you just don't want anyone knowing about… it could work." Anderson said, "Why are you asking all of this anyway?" Anderson asked.

"No reason. I was just… curious." Paige said.

"Ok. Well I have to go. You better head off to work." He said.

"Yes, dad." Paige smiled, giving her father a cheek as she flew by him and out of the station, her phone at the ready with a looked up PI's number on the dial button.

A/N: Let me know what you all think! Thanks for the reviews on the chapters. Keep them coming!