Hope

"April." Punk said after following AJ into the living room where she had made herself a coffee and was sat on the couch. He'd never intended to hurt her, he just thought it was a part of her life that she was trying to forget about too much, and one day it would really frighten her when she thought about it.

He wasn't branding her a killer. He knew what she done was justifiable and completely out of defence, but it was still unreported and it seemed like it was a pretty good hold to have on her from her ex boyfriend's point of view.

"What?" AJ said calmly as he scratched the back of his neck and sat down beside her.

"I didn't want to upset you." He shook his head, "I just want you to be able to talk to me." He nodded, "My mind was wandering, you know. I just don't want it to ever… weigh you down." He shook his head.

"There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about it." AJ told him, looking into his eyes, "I know that it's risky and that me not knowing what happened after I left isn't a good thing, but I know I'm safe. For Myles to go to the cops, would mean he'd have to explain why that man was in our house that night." She said, "It's never gonna happen, and if it did… I would take all of them down with me and he knows that." She said.

"It's still leverage he has." Punk said, "But if you still trust him that way then-"

"Don't say it like that." AJ said, "Like I still care about him. I don't." She made clear, "But if what you think, is me thinking about what I did all the time, then yes, I do." AJ said, "But there's nothing I can do about it."

"Talk to me." Punk nodded, "I have the concentration span of a four-year-old but… but for you, I'm here to listen." He said, "It's good to get things off your chest."

"Says you." AJ shook her head, "You're the biggest closed book I know." She said.

"I've never killed anyone before." Punk said as she just nodded.

"Yeah and I wasn't abused growing up by people who were supposed to love me." She countered as he just nodded.

"Ok. Fair enough." Punk nodded as she turned to him.

"You know what I love so much about you? And spending time with you?" She asked as he shook his head, "When I'm with you, I love the fact that… I don't have to think about all those horrible, dark things that happened." She said, "I can just forget about it and it's just me and you, here in our home with Kace." She said, "So when you bring it up, it's not my favourite thing. Yeah, it's great to talk but… that's one of those things that I… I don't ever want to talk about it." She made clear, "I mean… would you?" She asked him.

"No. I guess not." Punk shook his head, "I just want to make sure you're ok and nothing is eating away at you."

"I'm ok." AJ smiled, "In fact, I'm the best I've ever been, and it's because of you, actually finding a home and not having to leave because it's unsafe or I'm afraid someone is watching us." She said, "I can give Kace a good life here and… that's never been realistic before."

"You guys are always gonna be safe here." Punk nodded as she smiled, "I'm sorry, I just… I thought it'd be better if you spoke about it but… I've not walked in your shoes." He shrugged, "And… you're right, I don't like talking about what happened to me so… I shouldn't expect you to wanna talk to me about what happened." He said, "I just want to know you're ok and you're not worrying yourself."

"Phil, I would tell you if I was. Or you'd know. You've been around me long enough to know when I'm worried or something is on my mind." She nodded, "I'm never gonna hide anything from you. I just… I like that when I'm with you, and I'm here, my old life doesn't exist, and I'm… I'm thinking towards the future." She said as he nodded.

"Yeah, I get it." Punk nodded.

"You don't have to apologise." She shook her head, "I appreciate how much you think about my feelings. No one… no one has ever cared that much." She nodded, "But I'm ok." She said, placing her warm hand, heated by her mug of coffee on his knee, "I promise." She smiled as he nodded.

"That's all I care about." Punk nodded as she smiled, leaning against him and sipping at her coffee.

"I take it you won't be going into work today?" AJ asked him.

"No, not today." Punk said, "Well, I guess I'll need to speak to my boss, let him know what happened. Nothing was broken or stolen so he'll be pretty happy, I guess." She shrugged.

"Nothing stolen they just hurt your face." She frowned angrily.

"That's good from a business point of view." He laughed a little, "Hopefully they find whoever done it and they find Danny too." Punk said, "He'll be hiding in some ditch somewhere no doubt." He said.

"How long did it take last time?" AJ asked him.

"Matter of days." He said, "I just want him gone so I'm not tempted to go out and find him." He admitted truthfully, "Fucking dick." He whispered under his breath.

"You just need to be there and focus on Bonnie. She needs us more than that horrible man needs your fists in his face." She said, "Things will get better." She nodded.

"I just don't want her to be worried or hurt." Punk sighed, "She's already been through enough."

"She's strong." AJ said, "And she has us." She said as Punk nodded, "I'm gonna go take a shower before I get Kace up for school." She told him.

"Can I come?" Punk smirked, watching as she stood up.

"If you're quiet enough." She nodded, already making her way out of the living room to dump her mug in the kitchen and head into their bedroom to go for a shower.

Punk smirked to himself and stood up, walking out of the living room as he heard the spare bedroom door open, watching as Bonnie came out.

"Ugh, that's not the first thing I want to see in the morning." She moaned as she looked on at her brother standing in just his boxers as Punk looked down at himself.

"This sight is glorious." Punk shook his head as she just rolled her eyes, "How are you feeling?" He asked in a more serious tone as she nodded and folded her arms. She'd borrowed a pair of AJ's pyjamas since they were more or less the same size, perhaps they were just a little too small for her but she knew it was just for the night until she could grab some of her own stuff. Staying with them really did make her feel safer.

"I'm ok." Bonnie nodded, "I got a decent sleep which I haven't had in a while." She said, "I just want them to tell me they've got him so I can… pick my life back up." She said.

"Please don't let him bring you down." Punk said, "I know it's easy for me to say that but… he is nothing. He's completely worthless and you're above him. He'll be in prison and you'll be here living your life. So whatever happiness he got from hurting you again, it's all over now." He nodded as she just smiled.

"Thanks for letting me stay here." She said, "It… It does actually make a difference." She nodded.

"You can stay for as long as you need." Punk said, "Until he's arrested at least." He said as Bonnie smiled and nodded.

"Thank you." She nodded, "Now, there is a limit of time I can spend standing looking at my little brother's nipples, so… do you mind if I?" She pointed over to the kitchen as Punk laughed.

"Why are you so weird?" He shook his head.

"I'm not weird." Bonnie laughed, "You just need to put some clothes on." She hummed, walking off into the kitchen as Punk just shook his head, walking back into he and AJ's bedroom where he heard the shower running, smiling to himself as he headed off into the bathroom.

Later that day, AJ had gone to work and Kace had gone to school whilst Punk hung around with Bonnie. He knew AJ was right. The best thing he could have possibly done for his sister, was be there for her. Be there to make her smile and laugh. Be there to help her through this difficult time. No one was to blame besides one man. One horrid man.

"So how is it? Living here? All grown up like?" Bonnie asked him, sitting on the sofa as he sat across with his feet up.

They'd only left the house for Bonnie to pick up some clothes and for Punk to go to the police and also inform his boss about what had happened face-to-face.

"It's great." Punk smiled, "I mean… I feel like I got a family here, you know?" She said, "Never felt that with Kat." He shook his head, "I think… I really think AJ is the one."

"The one." Bonnie smiled, "You're still literally seven years old." She frowned and sighed as Punk laughed.

"I'm not though." Punk said, "It's great here. It's nice having people to go home to." He nodded, "Especially little Kace. He's great. I'm trying to be the best role model I can be for him."

"I'd say you're doing a pretty good job." Bonnie smiled over at him, "Kid loves you. You're like a walking comic to him." She said as he laughed.

"It's true." Punk smiled, "Makes me wonder, you know. Having a family." He nodded, "Settling down."

"Looks to me like you're already settled." Bonnie smiled, "Does he call you dad?" She wondered.

"No, he doesn't." Punk shook his head, "He knows I'm not. Me and AJ talked to him, explained it in the best way possible but… I don't mind." He said, "At first I was terrified of even being alone for two minutes with him." He said, "Now he is… he is just like my kid." Punk nodded, "I love him like he's mine."

"You happy?" She asked him as he looked over at her, "Excluding what's going on right now."

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "I am. For the first time in… a long long time." He said as she smiled.

"You know that's all I care about." She said as Punk just smiled.

"Not to… make you talk about it but… have you been thinking about what… how you feel about the baby?" Punk asked as she sighed.

"You know, it's not the fact that I'm alone that's scaring me." She said, "I just don't want it to be a reminder of him and what he did to me." She said, "Truthfully, I'm not gonna do anything like… I'm not going to get rid of it or… give it away." She said, "But I am scared." She nodded.

"I think you're allowed to be." Punk nodded, "You aren't alone. You've got me, and AJ and my friends as much as you hate them."

"I don't hate them." Bonnie shook her head, "In fact, Dean has… well I don't know where I would have been without him this past week." She said, "He's been amazing." She said.

"They're good friends." Punk agreed, "I'm glad he was there for you. Means a lot to me."

"He's a good man." Bonnie smiled, "So… to answer your question, if it even was a question… I'm having this baby." She nodded, "I mean… look at AJ." She said, "For crying out loud the woman moved state to state with a baby and still raised the cutest, kindest little kid ever." Bonnie said, "I think once the shock has sunk in and this is all over… maybe this might be something positive for me." She shrugged as Punk smiled.

"Forget about it's mom, kid is gonna have thee best uncle ever." Punk nodded as Bonnie smiled, "Like, it's not even gonna wanna stay with you, he's just gonna wanna be with me all the time." He smirked as Bonnie laughed.

"Don't get cocky." Bonnie smirked as Punk just smiled.

He was glad she was taking the baby as a positive which he believed she should have. She was right. It was a blessing and something that perhaps could give her a little hope throughout all of this. He was sure once this was all over, it was going to be something to celebrate. And he promised he would always be there for his niece or nephew.

A/N; Let me know what you think!