Author's Notes: I just wanted to say sorry for not updating sooner. This whole Punk walking out thing has damped my mood. I hope that it is only a storyline which will lead to Punk finally getting to main event WrestleMania. Anyways, thanks to everyone who is supporting my stories and even if Punk does leave, I will continue to write Punk stories, but only if you want. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own the WWE or the superstars in this story.

A/N: It is once again time for the best review award and today it goes too…

Guest chapter who wrote:

I don't really know if he's being sincere or not I want him to be for AJ and Erica's sake but it could all be an act to get out of jail :)

Congrats and please keep on reviewing!

Chapter 37-Verdict

As the court went to recess, Carlos was sent to the back to sit in a holding cell for a while and the others went out to the lobby area. "How's everyone doing? Do you guys need anything?" Shawn asked them.

"No I think we're good, just a bit shaken up," Erica told him. "I don't think anyone of us was expecting Carlos to be so opened like he was. Honestly, a lot of what he scared me. I never knew that Carlos was so power hungry like that. If he didn't go to jail sooner, I don't know what could have happened."

"Yes that is unfortunate, but what I need to know is if you guys want to continue with the proceedings after listening to Carlos' testimony?" he needed to know now, so that he could go stop the judge before he made his verdict.

Punk, AJ, and Erica all looked at each other and instantly knew what they were thinking. They all silently agreed that they had come all this way to see that Carlos would go free and it would be a shame to turn their backs on him now. "We are not going to stop Mr. Michaels. Even after everything, we still want Carlos to come home with us," Erica told Shawn and they continued to talk.

"Meanwhile, Punk and AJ had wondered off on their own to a small corner where they sat down. "You did so well up their Princess, I am so proud of you," Punk told his girlfriend as he hugged her. "You were so strong."

"Thank you Punky, but I felt so scared up there. I thought I was ready for this, but when the judge asked me about what my dad did to me, I started to panic. I hate looking back at what he did because I know that he has changed," AJ cried.

"Hey, hey it's going to be okay Princess, don't cry. After hearing all the good things that we had to say about Carlos, the judge has to let him go. I do believe that he is changing April and I want him to get help. All we have to do is have faith and things will work out for the best," Punk told her as he hugged her tight.

AJ however continued to cry, "That's not the only thing that is bugging me Phil. I'm still freaking out about this whole possible pregnancy thing." It's been on her mind constantly.

"You mean you still haven't been to the doctors yet?" Punk asked confused as hell. He thought she had taken care of that already but just forgot to tell him with everything that has been going on recently.

"I tried to make the appointment, but the need my parent or guardian to go with me. I'm terrified to tell my mom Phil!" AJ cried out again. She was so stressed that it wasn't even funny.

"Fuck me too now, she is going to kill me and now your dad might too," he sighed and thought about everything for a second, "Okay look, here is what we are going to do, when the time is right we will tell your mom and hopefully your dad together. However we'll also tell them that we already took a test and it came out negative, but we want a second opinion just to be sure. That way it will look like we are slightly responsible," Punk told her as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

AJ just nodded and held on to Punk. Today her birthday, was supposed to be a time of happiness, not a time to be nervous and afraid. Nevertheless, she knew that she had to tough it out, because at least some good could come out of this situation.

About an hour later after a quiet lunch, Shawn and the Mendez/Brooks family walked back into the courtroom, because the verdict was in. "Alright guys here is the deal, the judge will come in, talk a little, and then read his verdict. If he chooses to accept our request, Carlos will be processed and released within the next few hours. If the judge declines our request, Carlos will be taken back to jail and will have to serve the rest of his sentence in jail. However, I have no doubt that the judge will see things our way and Carlos will go free," Shawn smiled.

Just as Erica was about to asked a question, the bailiff came in and said, "All rise for the honorable Judge Levesque." Everyone stood up and waited for the go ahead to sit down.

"You may be seated," the judge told him. "Once again for the record, this is the Carlos Mendez case who is requesting early release from the Chicago County Jail. Now after much deliberation and going through all the testimonies, I have come to a verdict. Before I read my verdict, there are a couple things that I would like to say. First, I would like to commend Erica and April Mendez for coming here today and speaking out on what happened to them. What you two went through all these years and to turn around and forgive your abuser takes a lot of strength. I hope the best for you and what the future brings to you. Next I would like to acknowledge the bravery of Phil Brooks. It amazes me how heroic you are for saving these two woman even at young age. You are a hero and people should look up to you. Now on to you Mr. Mendez, I am absolutely stunned by what I heard from you today. I don't understand how you can hurt the people that you claim to love. Yes you have may have been influenced from outside forces as well as alcohol, but that doesn't give you a right to lay your hands on anyone. Now I can see why the first judge handed down such a hard sentence. However despite what may have happened in the past your family has somehow forgiven you. They have shown that when you are not influence of alcohol, you are a model citizen. So with that being said, I hereby grant your request for early release from the Chicago County Jail with strict terms Mr. Mendez. For one, you are hereby ordered to attend AA meetings, domestic violence class, as well as being on probation for the remainder of the term. At this time I would like to thank the court for coming here today and you're dismissed."

"All rise," the bailiff announced and Judge Levesque left the courtroom.

As soon as he left, Erica and AJ jumped into each other's arms and cried tears of joy. They were so happy that Carlos got released. Punk even joined in the celebration and hugged them as well. As they were doing this, Carlos and Shawn shook hands and Carlos thanked him for getting him out of jail early. Shawn told him it was the least that he could do and then stepped aside so that the family could be reunited.

Carlos first walked up to Erica and waited to see what she would do. Erica could see that he was nervous and decided to end his misery by pulling him into a big hug, "I missed you so much Carlos."

"I missed you too sweetheart," he told her as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry for what I have done. I shouldn't have let my father get to me like that and now because of him, I missed out on a lot of things in your and AJ's lives," he cried as he hugged her.

"Like I said earlier Carlos, it's okay. I don't like it, but I understand why you did what you did to us. Let's just forget and move on. Besides, you have many more years to make up for what you have missed. I'm just glad that you're here with us now and you're safe and sober," Erica told him.

Carlos knew that he had a lot to prove and he was going to start now. Pulling apart from his wife, he walked over to AJ and cried tears of joy when AJ launched herself into his arms, "I missed you so much daddy."

He just smiled and kissed the top of her head, "I missed you too baby girl. I missed you every day that I was locked up. I'm so sorry what I have done to you and I promise you that I will never do it again. I should have never laid my hands on you. You are my precious baby girl and I love you will all my heart."

"I love you too dad and we'll get through all of this as a family. All four of us will," AJ said as she looked over at her boyfriend and mother.

"Speaking of our family, I think I need to extend a huge debt of gratitude to my future son in law here. So thank you Phil, I owe you a big one. I could have never gotten free without you," he told Punk as he extended his hand out to him.

Punk accepted Carlos' hand, "It's no big deal Carlos, I was happy to do it. I did it for all of us actually. I just wanted to see my family be happy for once. Erica and AJ just smiled as they watched their two favorite men interact with each other.

A few minutes later, the bailiff came up to them, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to take Mr. Mendez to processing to take care of some paperwork and then he will be transported back to the jail to pick up his things. You are more than happy to meet us there. It shouldn't take more than an hour or two."

"Okay well I guess I'll see you later," Carlos smiled and bid farewell to his family whom he would see later.

Once he was gone, Shawn came over to them, "So I take it your happy with the verdict?"

Everyone nodded. "Yes we are Mr. Michaels and thank you so much for what you have done," Erica told him.

"Just doing my job Mrs. Mendez, now the only thing that we have to take care of is my payment," he smiled.

"Of course we have your $100 and your case of beer in the car," Erica laughed and they all walked out the courtroom. In just two short hours, they would all be a proper family again.

Yeah, Carlos is free! I only hope that he is being sincere and will stay on the straight and narrow. Also, I hope everything goes okay when Punk and AJ tell them about the whole possible pregnancy thing. Next time we see the family truly reunited and when they go out to dinner, they run into some unexpected visitors.

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