Getting Ready

"There you go, baby." AJ said, sitting on her bed with Jessica crossed legged in front of her, having finished drying her hair after spending a lot of time helping her rinse it out in the bath. It was difficult trying to get the laces of gum out of her hair without ruining it but she managed her best.

"Is it all gone?" Jessica asked, running her hands through her soft dark hair and smiling happily.

"Yeah, it's beautiful." AJ smiled, running her hand through Jessica's shiny hair, "Hey I was thinking maybe… if you want you could stay at home tomorrow. Spend some time with your sister." She said as Jessica turned around to her.

"Why?" Jessica wondered.

"Well… just until everything calms down at school for you. I just don't want you feeling uncomfortable and you know if… if we have to move you schools then…. Then we can do that." AJ nodded.

"No, I'm fine." Jessica shook her head, "But I'll stay off tomorrow." She smiled happily as AJ nodded.

"And you'll promise me you won't hit anyone again?" AJ cupped her cheek. She always remembered Jessica sticking up for herself at an early age. She loved that about her. She could remember her being as young as three and standing her ground at daycare with the other kids who were trying to take her toys. She wasn't afraid to stand up for herself for sure, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt to be bullied.

"I promise." Jessica nodded, "I just wanted her to stop calling me names." She shrugged as AJ nodded.

"Yeah, I know. I don't… listen, I don't blame you." AJ said, "But… bullies don't get very far in life. They spend so much of their time worrying about other people, and trying to put them down, that they forget to live their own lives and they forget to be their own person." AJ nodded, "And you don't have to worry about that." She said.

"I don't think she'll be coming near me after you yelled at her." Jessica laughed a little.

"Did I yell?" AJ wondered. When she was in the principal's office to pick Jessica up, it became a blur. Her head was spinning after coming from visiting Punk, and it was like she just broke for a second.

"Yeah, I think you scared her." Jessica smiled happily.

"Well that wasn't my intention." AJ said, "But… maybe she'll stop. I just don't want you to have to deal with this. Were you sitting with Caitlin at lunch today?"

"Yeah, I was." Jessica nodded, "It was fine until the gum was in my hair and they were saying mean things to me." Jessica said as AJ nodded.

"It should get better." AJ said.

"What are we doing tomorrow then?" Jessica asked her.

"Well I'm working all day but I thought maybe you and your sister could spend the day with Uncle Dom. I think he was talking about going to the movies and then for some pizza." AJ said. She wanted the kids' lives to not be affected in any way possible. She wanted them to be busy and distracted, and to not notice that everyone was a little on edge and that their father still hadn't returned home yet.

"Oh, yeah." Jessica smiled, "Am I allowed to stay off school? Isn't that against the law?" She wondered worriedly.

"No, it's fine." AJ smiled, "One day won't hurt anybody." She said as Jo walked into the bedroom.

"Oh, your hair is better." Jo told Jessica, "Nice and shiny." She smiled.

"Thanks." Jessica said, "Dom is taking us to the movies tomorrow." She told her sister.

"Oh, really?" Jo smiled, standing up on the bed, jumping up and down as AJ smiled, "Oh, I'm excited." She jumped up and down before collapsing back into the comfort of the cushions and pillows, sighing with relaxation as AJ smiled.

"How do you like Rianne?" AJ asked Jo curiously.

"I like her." Jo sat up, "She's nice and she makes nice food for me." Jo smiled, "I like her a lot."

"You do?" AJ asked as Jo nodded. The past couple of days Jo had just been staying in the house with Rianne and she seemed to be enjoying it a lot.

"Yeah." Jo nodded.

"Who is she?" Jessica asked.

"She's dad's mom." AJ said.

"Oh." Jessica nodded.

"Daddy has a mommy?" Jo smiled, "Oh, that's nice." She nodded, "But daddy isn't here to see her." She sighed, "I miss my daddy." She frowned, leaning back against the cushions again.

"I do too." Jessica had to agree.

"I know. Me too." AJ nodded, "But he'll be home soon." AJ said. Saying that and knowing that it wasn't for definite was absolutely terrifying, but she had to live on hope and she had to give her girls the same hope.

"Can we sleep in your bed tonight with you?" Jo asked, "Since daddy isn't here to cuddle you then we will instead." Jo nodded as AJ smiled.

"You guys are the best." AJ smiled, "Why don't I stick a movie on for you both?" She asked them, "Get under the covers." She said, getting off the bed as they both got under the covers.

"Trolls, please." Jo nodded.

"We always watch that." Jessica scolded.

"Then Hotel Transylvania." Jo said in a mouthful.

"And we always watch that too." Jessica said.

"Zootopia. I wanna see Judy Hopps." Jo folded her arms.

"Fine. I like that movie." Jessica agreed as AJ put the movie on for them. She knew they'd probably fall asleep anyway, so she gave them both a kiss and hug before leaving the room and heading downstairs.

She walked into the kitchen where Rianne was, sitting at the table, "Have you ate today?" Rianne asked her as AJ walked over to the coffee maker and switched it on.

"I… had a quick sandwich." AJ nodded.

"Oh, you did?" Rianne asked, "That's not a meal." She said, "You need a warm dinner. How do you expect to work well when you're not eating properly." She said, "You have a big day tomorrow."

"And I'm ready for it." AJ replied, "It's nothing too difficult. We're not peeling the case back just yet. It should be straight forward. The judge will see that Phil is… a good man, a family man, with a good job, children that love him, that always does the defendant well."

"Yes but… he's been arrested for murder, April." Rianne said, "Just because he has a good job and he has kids doesn't mean he gets a free pass. It's up to you to… talk your way to having him home. Personally I think you're under way too much pressure, what with your illness too-"

"I am fine." AJ said, "I take meds, I go to therapy, I do things to keep myself healthy. You wouldn't know anything about that. Your therapy is drugs and alcohol." AJ said spitefully as Rianne just nodded.

"Yeah, you're right." Rianne said, "I'm sorry, I forgot you were mother of the century." She nodded as AJ rolled her eyes.

"I'm doing my best." AJ turned to her, "I'm trying to… keep myself together, work this case, keep my children out of it, all the while I'm constantly looking over my shoulder." She said, "And I'm worried about Phil and everything he's going through." She sighed, placing her hand on her forehead as Rianne stood up.

"You're doing fine." Rianne nodded, "Those girls are very lucky to have a strong mother like you." She said as AJ wiped a tear that was falling from her eyes down her cheeks, "You're doing great. For everyone. For Phil. For the girls. For yourself." Rianne said, "Just keep looking after yourself." She nodded.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" AJ asked, "Should I be worried? Are you like… wearing a wire or something?" She asked as Rianne laughed to herself.

"No." Rianne laughed, "I just… wanna help. I've been clean for a while now and… well.. meeting my granddaughters, it's made me realise what I'm missing. I know Phil has every right to… hate me and not want me near him or his family, and that's fine, I get it, but the least I could do is help you whilst he isn't here. Even if it's just making dinner or watching Jo, tidying the girls toys away." She said, "If it helps you."

"It is." AJ nodded, "I… I do appreciate it." She said, "And Jo really likes you." She nodded as Rianne smiled, "She likes your food."

"She's a sweetheart." Rianne said, "Kind little thing. Good heart." She smiled.

"Yeah." AJ agreed, "I'm keeping Jess off school tomorrow, they're gonna spend the day with Dom." AJ nodded, "That way I know they're safe and distracted I guess." She said, referring to Dom who was lounging on the couch, guarding the house for the night.

"You have a big day tomorrow." Rianne nodded, "You should get to sleep early. Have you gone over everything you need to?"

"Yeah." AJ nodded, "Yeah, I'm ready." AJ said.

"Do you… want me to come? Sit in the gallery?" Rianne asked as AJ looked across at her.

"I… well it's not about me. I don't know if Phil would want you there. To be honest, I don't think he'll want anyone there. And it's a quick hearing." AJ said as Rianne just nodded.

"Then I'll hold the fort here until you get back, hopefully with him." Rianne said as AJ nodded.

"Yeah, hopefully." AJ said, she was praying and hoping.

"You should head to bed for an early night. Turn that coffee pot off. You have way too much caffeine." She shook her head, switching the coffee off as AJ allowed her to, "Go on. Get an early night and lay out your things for the morning. Make it easy on yourself." She said as AJ just nodded, walking over to the kitchen door as she watched Rianne head over to finish the rest of the kitchen dishes.

"Thank you." AJ nodded, looking over to Rianne who just nodded and smiled.

AJ disappeared upstairs, walking into her bedroom where she saw the girls were fast asleep already. She knew they would be as she saw how tired they were. She got into her own pyjamas and got into bed beside them. Their little bodies didn't take up much room, so they all fit perfectly.

She reached over and switched the light off on the bedside cabinet, letting the cartoon movie continue to play in the corner, sinking down into the pillows and pulling the covers over her.

She then felt little arms wrap around her back, body pushing against her as she smiled to herself and turned her head a little to see Jo hugging into her like a little bear cub.

"Have nice dreams, mommy." Jo whispered as AJ smiled.

"You too, baby." AJ nodded, enjoying the tight squeeze from her daughter. If there was one thing to set her up and prepare her for the big day ahead, it was the comfort and closeness from her girls.