CHAPTER 35: Us

Another 5 days had passed and it was now November 1rst. By then Punk had already gotten his eye checked out. Turned out that it was nearly fractured in the process and therefore is to wear a patch over it for at least a month and the pain was killing him from it but despite it he refused to use any of the painkillers prescribed to him. He did however used the anti-inflammation medication. The couple now sat in a clinic as they were about to have AJ's first ultrasound appointment which was something that was long overdue.

"I can't wait to see them" said Punk. "I hear that they have the 4D out so that'll make wonders for us" said AJ. "I never thought that I could even be a father" said Punk. "Didn't you ever have relationships before me in which this would even cross your mind?" asked AJ. "Yeah but nothing as serious as you" said Punk. She proudly displayed off her engagement ring as so did Punk. Boy did she treat him well on his, spending at least twice as much as he did…not that he knew ;-).

"I don't care if they're a boy or a girl" said Punk. "I just want them to be healthy." "Me too" said AJ as she placed her hand over her stomach. It had grown a lot more in the past few weeks. "How much did you gain again?" Punk chuckled. "I'm 111…so 6lbs is the obvious" said AJ. "And I hope that's normal." A tall beautiful blonde woman approached the two while wearing a white lab coat and light pink bowed flats. "Hello" she said while smiling. "You must be April and Phil. My name is Dr. Maryse Ouellet and I'm going to be overseeing your care for today."

"Doctor Oh-?" Punk attempted at pronunciation. Maryse chuckled. "It's ok. You'll get used to it someday. Shall we?" AJ nodded as Punk helped her up and into the back room. "So tell me April, how are you feeling today?" said Maryse as AJ took a seat on the examining table. "Um…ok" said AJ. "I've been having a lot of heartburn, I'm eating healthy, I've gained 6lbs and my breasts are really tender but as for morning sickness it's pretty much gone." "Good, good" said Maryse as she used her stethoscope to check her heart out. "As you know that our nurses have written down your temperature, blood pressure as well as taking your blood among other things." AJ nodded.

"When was the day of your last period?" asked Maryse. "It ended June…June 26ish I believe?" said AJ. "I know I took a test on September 1rst and it told me I was 7 weeks." Maryse nodded. "Well I'm going to do a more thorough examination, to make sure everything's alright." "Do I have to get in the stirrups?" asked AJ. "That's…that's never happened to me before." "You've never seen a gynecologist before?" asked Maryse. AJ shook her head no. "No" she said. "I didn't start having sex until March-this March." "Don't worry" said Maryse. "I'll talk you through everything." "I think this is my cue to go" said Punk as he walked over to kiss AJ on her forehead. "I'll be back really soon. I promise." AJ nodded as he left.

"Ok Ms. Mendez, I'm going to have you completely undress so I can give you a full physical." "Oh great…" AJ thought sarcastically. "Don't worry" said Maryse. "There's nothing to worry about."

About a half hour later, Punk was able to return back into the room. "How are they?" asked he as he took a seat next to AJ. "They're fine" said Maryse. "And what I can figure is that she's almost 16 weeks and is due on April 21rst, 2018. I'm ready to do the ultrasound so you both can see what's going on her stomach." AJ nodded as she lifted her shirt up for her doctor, causing Punk to get a completely different view of his fiancée's growing belly for the first time. It was a small bump, but meaningful.

"This is going to be warm gel" said Maryse. "I like to give my patients the warm gel and not the cold one." "Thank you" AJ whispered as Maryse prepped her for the ultrasound. "Are you two ready to see your baby?" she asked. The couple nodded as Maryse turned off the lights and turned the screen on and immediately appeared a small image of their baby. "That's our baby?" asked Punk. "Yes Mr. Brooks" said Maryse. "It looks so cute" said AJ. "Their heartbeat is nice and strong and so far…they're developing right on time" said Maryse. "Ten fingers and ten toes." "How big are they?" asked AJ. "Right now they're not quite almost 5 inches and are about the size of a little avocado" said Maryse as she continued moving the probe across AJ's stomach.

"And…I see something that might be of interest to you." "What!?" AJ panicked. Maryse smiled. "It's alright Ms. Mendez" she said sweetly. "Everything's alright. What I was trying to say is that I can see the sex of your baby and it's only one baby so far that I see." "Oh" AJ said as she blushed with embarrassment. "Would you two like to know?" asked Maryse. AJ and Punk exchanged glances. "And you sure that you can tell for sure?" asked Punk. "Absolutely Mr. Brooks" said Maryse. The couple looked back into one another's eyes before turning back to their doctor.

"We…we wanna keep it a surprise" said Punk. "Certainly" said Maryse. "Would you like to take a better look at them in 4D?" The couple nodded as she changed the screen, giving them an even clearer look at their unborn child. "Hmm I wonder who's face they have?" asked AJ. "Are they sucking their thumb?" asked Punk. "Yep I believe so" Maryse said cheerfully. Punk stared in awe at the image that was being presented before him. Who knew that his life would change so much in the past 13 months. He continued looking at their baby's little tiny body.

"Is that their little nose?" asked AJ. "Yes" said Maryse. "Their eyes are still shut but soon they'll be open." "Wait like on the inside...of April?" Punk asked. "Yep" said Maryse. "But don't worry, the amniotic fluid that's protecting your baby won't hurt them." "Weird..." said Punk. "I can't wait to meet them" said AJ. "I can't wait for you to meet them too" Maryse smiled. "I'll go print you guys a few photos." AJ nodded as Maryse left.

AJ slowly sat up and fixed her shirt. "I can't meet to meet them too" said Punk. "That was…surreal" said AJ. "April…" Punk chuckled. "What's so funny?" asked AJ. "Because your name is April and our baby is due in you" said Punk. "It's kind of like a pun I think…or a double…double meaning?" "I think you're right about one of them" said AJ. Maryse returned with a stack of 6 photos. "Here you guys are" she said. "Your next appointment will be in 3 weeks on the 22nd at the same time and if that doesn't work for you then the registration can make accommodations for you."

"Oh no it'll work for us" said AJ. "And thank you doctor." "You're very welcome you two" said Maryse. AJ and Punk left the room as they got onto the elevator. He was still smiling as his eyes were glued to the 6 photos. An elderly woman with chocolate skin who sported a white cane stepped on at the floor below them. "Ooh he seems pretty darn happy" she said as she smiled. "I'm going to be a father" Punk said while smiling. "Congratulations my dear" the elderly woman smiled. "Good luck to you too." The trio exited at the ground floor and the doorman held open the door.

"Still staring at what we made?" AJ teased. "Absolutely" said Punk. "I'll always stare at what we made." "That doesn't sound right" said AJ as she laughed. "Oh April, we're going to have to get a much bigger place now to race them" said Punk. "I know" said AJ. "But that place we have right now has so many memories and I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to let go of them" said Punk. "They're your memories Phil" said AJ as she stood at the curb. "They'll always be with you until the day you leave this Earth."

"What about heaven?" asked Punk. "Tell me something is it as nice as people always describe it because I don't wanna lose my memories here and not be able to bring them with me there." AJ chuckled. "I was never in heaven before since it's not my time yet at least to my knowledge but yes I can recall Father Thomas telling us it is the most perfect place you can ever image." "Will we still get to be together even there?" asked Punk. AJ's eyes widened.

"Yeah of course" she said. "I had no idea that you were even interested in stuff like this…you never were before." "Well I think I am now" said Punk. "Especially because I would like to marry you very soon." "How soon?" asked AJ. "Next month" said Punk. "I don't want us to wait anymore and I don't want to bring our child into the world without their parents being married. I know that it's an ok thing to do for a lot of people, but for you it isn't. This is important to you. It's how you were brought up and I don't want to take anything else from you…no matter what I may or may not believe in and yes I'm starting to change I admit but of course with such a change like that, it does take time."

"Ok" AJ nodded. "Let's go home and see if we can figure out a date together because I don't want to wait anymore either." Punk leaned down to kiss her. "You really are an angel, aren't you?" he said. "I could be" AJ smiled. "Come on, let's get you and our little Punk out of here" said Punk. "Um what kind of name is that for our daughter?" asked AJ. "The same type of name it is for our son" said Punk. "But you don't know what we're having" said AJ. "And neither do you" said Punk. AJ playfully bit her lip.

"Hmmm…" she said. "Ok. We've got each other on that one." "Yes we do" said Punk as he carefully tucked the precious photos of their baby into his coat pocket. "But let's get you home." AJ nodded as the two walked to the train station.

A/N: Thank you for all of your reviews so far and please keep them coming :-)