A/N: Sorry about the delay but with the holidays coming up I've been busy. After this week updates will be back to normal. Anyways here you go!

Due Date

Punk woke up someone shaking his arm almost violently. His eyes shot open and he squinted as the sun burned into his eyes. He looked over and saw April was on her knees shaking his arm.

"What's wrong?" He asked slowly trying to wake up.

"The baby is due." April smiled.

"What?" He asked sitting up. "The baby is coming?"

Punk was out of the bed and putting on his clothes. He threw on one sneaker and began looking for the other one as he grabbed April's go bag.

"Ape I can't find my shoe!" Punk yelled frantically.

"It's under the chair." She pointed and Punk nearly fell over the crib he, Nico and Colt spent six hours putting together yesterday.

"Ok." Punk said shoving it onto his foot. "Bag, wallet, shoes-" he tailed off as April just watched him curiously as he raced around the room. "You! I need you and my keys." he said remembering. "I need my keys- where did I live my keys?"

"They're on the kitchen counter where you always leave them." She said to him with a smirk.

"You have to at least put shoes on Ape there's snow on the ground." He said running into her closet.

"My water didn't break." April said to him casually and he looked over to her ready to kill.

"Why the fuck would you tell me it did?" Punk demanded.

"I didn't. I said the baby is due. Today is my due date." She smiled sitting back down on the bed.

"Why didn't you stop me?" He asked her dropping her bag and kicking his shoes off.

"This was a great test run." April shrugged and smiled. "The baby can come anytime now isn't that exciting?"

"Yea thrilling." He remarked sitting on the edge of the bed. "You scared me, again." he said glaring at her.

"Going into labor isn't meant to be scary." April smiled happily. "I for one can't wait for fetus to be out so I can have my body back."

"Getting uncomfortable?" Punk asked her.

"Just a tad." She forced out still smiling. "My feet are swollen that I can't fit into my shoes, my back is killing me, I can't sleep comfortably and all I do is pee. Peeing would be ok if it didn't take me ten minutes to get off the toilet."

"I thought you were going to say you were excited for labor so we could finally meet the baby." He teased.

"Oh, we've met." She informed him seriously. "We've been chatting for nine months now."

"She's already bonded with you do you think she'll like me?" Punk asked her.

"She loves you." April said to him. "Every time you talk to her she moves around and gets all excited."

"You really think she knows my voice?" he asked her.

"Of course she does." April smiled. "That's why a lot of parents put headphones on their stomachs and read baby books to the belly."

"Have we done that?" he asked thinking about it.

"No. The sounds of our voices is good enough." April said patting her stomach. "How's Amy doing?"

"I couldn't tell you." Punk shrugged. "Cliff came by the shop a few nights ago and said Amy was flying home for the labor and hasn't seen her since."

"She can't fly in her third trimester." April said to him.

"Huh." Punk said aloud.

"She must have driven." April said to him. "I hope she has a safe delivery."

"Well Cliff is flying out even though she doesn't want him there." Punk said to her.

"I feel bad for him." April sighed. "I don't know why she doesn't want him there I can't imagine doing this without you."

"I don't know she's a strange bird." Punk muttered.

"I'm kind of glad she's out of state." April admitted. "Does that make the worst friend to Cliff?" She asked fearfully.

"Of course not." He said to her. "Maybe your Amy nightmares will die down now."

"It's not just Amy anymore. Last night I dreamed that the pizza guy stole Nadia." April admitted and he laughed. "And four nights ago it was my dad and last week it was the new waitress at Nico's."

"Have you been watching that ID discovery channel again?" Punk questioned.

"Maybe." She shrugged.

"You're the one who keeps preaching positive vibes fro the baby you can't watch crap like that." Punk insisted.

"I know, I know." She said leaning back. "Ugh." she groaned.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I have to pee then shower and try to shave my legs with this giant balloon around my waist." She said trying to sit up.

"I'll help." He offered.

"You're not shaving my legs." She laughed.

"Why the hell not?" he asked her. "You think I care? You shaved my beard for me."

"It's different." She laughed as he helped her fully sit up. "Just help me out of the bed and I'll take care of the rest."

"Alright but if you change your mind I don't mind." He offered getting out of the bed so he could help her out.

"I'll keep that mind." She remarked sarcastically as she walked into the bathroom.

Punk headed into the kitchen to cook April breakfast and was just about done when someone knocked at the door. He peeked out and saw someone he wasn't expecting, April and Nico's father. He opened the door slightly to greet him.

"Mr. Mendez." Punk greeted as nicely as possible.

"Hello." Nico Sr. forcefully smiled. "I know I'm dropping in without calling but I happened to be in town."

"You just happened to be in Chicago?" Punk asked skeptically.

"I haven't heard from my kids in months. Last I heard from Nico was when he bailed on visiting and I have no idea how my grandchild is not that I have any claim to the child of course." Nico added nervously. "It's just I had thought April would keep me in the loop about Nico's child and she hasn't she dropped off the grid and I've been very worried."

"You really are out of the loop." Punk said to him.

"Who was at the door?" April asked walking over with just a robe on. Her hair was long and damp still and she seemed refreshed.

"Your father." Punk said and April looked for herself and saw her father at the door.

"April." her father gasped noting her very pregnant state.

"Can I have a minute?" April asked looking towards Punk.

"You sure?" Punk asked her.

"Yea." She said giving him a reassuring smile.

"I'll be right in the kitchen." He whispered to her then stepped away to give April privacy.

"You're pregnant?" Nico asked her.

"Due any day now." April said to him.

"That's lovely." Nico smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." April said smiling.

"And you got married as well." He said noting the extra ring.

"Sorry I haven't called." She said to him.

"You don't have to call." Nico reminded her. "I've just been curious as to how you and Nico have been doing."

"He's good. Working." April shrugged.

"And surely he had his baby now." Nico noted.

"Oh that's a long story but there is no baby." April said to him.

"Poor kid." Nico muttered. "Your brother seemed excited."

"It was a long time ago he's in a good place now." April assured him. "Did you come alone?" She asked peering down the hall.

"Of course." Nico said to her.

"You want to come inside?" April offered.

"I don't want to get in your way April." he said then smiled. "You look just like your mother did when she was pregnant with Nico." he smiled admiring his daughter. "Is it a boy?"

"Girl." April smiled putting her hands on her large stomach.

"Beautiful." Nico said with a genuine smile. "You'll make a wonderful mother."

"Why do you say that?" April asked curiously.

"I clearly don't know much about parenting but I know you have to be strong and selfless and you always have been." Nico grinned. "I remember when Nico broke my favorite beer glass and you had to only be five and you were afraid I'd hurt him so bad I'd kill him and you lied to me and told me you did it."

"When I told you I broke that glass I thought you'd kill me instead." April admitted. "You didn't even yell at me."

"Because I knew it was Nico and I knew you were afraid for him. It was one of those rare times I tried to be decent." Nico said with a weak smile.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." April said to him. "I know we were working on our relationship it's just..."

"I know dinner didn't go too smoothly I understand your hesitation." Nico said to her.

"It's not you." April assured him.

"Is it Xavier?" Nico questioned and April didn't say anything.

"He's just a weird boy but he's harmless." Nico assured her. "I think he had a little crush on you in high school." he winked and April visibly cringed.

"I'm sure that's it." April lied.

"Is there something more I should know?" Nico asked. "Did he bother you when you were at the house? You can tell me April."

"No." She said shaking her head pushing those thoughts out of her head, she'd worry about Xavier and his secret later right now she was going to have a baby and that's where her mind needed to be. "Look, I can't really talk too much right now because we're literally in the middle of a move. Half of our stuff is at our new place and I have so much to do."

"You're moving right as you're having baby?" Nico questioned. "Are you sure that's a wise idea?"

"Well we only just got the home. We're going to stay here for a few more weeks but we're slowly moving stuff over and setting up so we don't have to do it all the last minute." April told him.

"Do you need help?" Nico offered. "I can stay as long as you need."

"No I couldn't ask you to do that but if you want to have dinner tonight we're going to Nico's." April offered.

"I don't know how he'd feel about that." Nico Sr smirked.

"He has a very hard time saying no to his pregnant baby sister." April grinned.

"I would imagine so." Nico agreed. "What time?"

"7." April said to him.

"I'll be there." Nico said to her. "I look forward to it. See you tonight."

"I'll see you tonight." April confirmed before closing the door.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Punk asked startling her. He was right by the door the entire time.

"No but I felt bad." April said to him.

"Is Nico going to be ok with this?" Punk asked.

"I don't know. You'll have to break the news to him gently I suppose." She shrugged as she sat the kitchen table.

"I have to tell him?" Punk asked with a laugh and she nodded.

"I have a lot to do today." April said to him innocently.

"No you don't." he said to her. "Today is your due date you need to be here."

"As much as I was hoping for it little fetus just isn't ready to come out yet." April shrugged. "I have to pick up my editor notes at the office."

"I'll do that." Punk offered. "What else?"

"I'd rather just go myself and I have to go to the new house because I accidentally packed up the outfit I wanted to bring Nadia home in from the hospital." April said to him.

"What does it matter?" Punk asked. "There's a ton of stuff here."

"I've been imagining bringing our daughter home every single day since for the last nine months I want it to be perfect. It's this blue dress and has a cute little flower on it and I want to bring her home in it." April said to him.

"You need me to do it? I will." he again offered.

"I'll be fine." April said to him. "I think I packed my I-Pod too and I need that for the hospital anyway. Just go do what you have to do at work and meet me at Nico's at 7. You might want to get there earlier to break the news to him though."

"Wonderful." Punk forced out.

"I don't know why she'd invite him here." Nico said as he shuffled around the busy kitchen.

"She wants to sit down and talk to him." Punk shrugged.

"About how he's harboring her rapist?" Nico spat.

"We still don't know if its true." Punk pointed out.

"I believe it, I know you believe it and April definitely believes it." Nico said to him. "She can do whatever she wants with him I don't have to have dinner with him too."

"She wants you there." Punk insisted.

"I'm working." Nico shrugged.

"You can take half an hour and have someone cover." Punk said to him. "You were going to have dinner with him a few months ago." he pointed out.

"I think we both know the real reason I was going to have dinner with him." Nico smirked.

"And what was your master plan by the way?" Punk questioned. "You were going to what? Go and beat him up?"

"For starters." Nico said to him. "I don't have that forgiveness gene that April has and it's going to be difficult for me to sit across from him as it is but now knowing he's providing for a man that raped April? No way."

"You need to let April handle that." Punk reminded him.

"I am." Nico laughed. "If she wants to keep this secret locked away that's her business but I don't have to sit across the table from it."

"Do this for her?" Punk requested. "She's not asking you to hug him but give her one night with her family."

"That man isn't my family." Nico said to him. "I'd do anything for April you know that but I won't sit across from him and break bread with him."

"You love her enough to lie about being a father and betraying me but not enough to a fucking meal?" Punk remarked.

"You're throwing that in my face again?" Nico asked him. "I get what I did sucked but you still refuse to accept my apology over it. We're still not where we were."

"We're getting there." Punk admitted. "And if you do this dinner I'll accept your apology."

"That's low." Nico said to him. "Very low."

"You're not the only one who would do anything for April." Punk shrugged. "You owe us this dinner."

"Fucking fine." Nico gave in.

"April will be pleased." Punk grinned.

"Where is she by the way? Is she waddling around outside or tripping over her own feet somewhere else?" Nico teased.

"She went into work." Punk said annoyed. "Then she had to stop by the new house because she packed up a few things she still needs."

"That house is amazing." Nico whistled. "It's not even a regular house it's like a mansion."

Punk and April settled on a place a month and a half ago. It met all of their needs. Five bedrooms so April could have an office and they could add to their family if they wanted. It also had a huge basement that Punk planned on making part gym/part comic library, a tremendous yard that he had already ordered a swing set he planned on installing himself and the house was in a safe area not far from schools. Punk never imagined he'd be searching for 'sensible' homes in his life or spend so much on home for that matter they even succeeded their home budget by a few bucks but it was worth it.

"It is nice, isn't it?" Punk smirked.

"How does it feel to have the perfect life?" Nico asked seriously. "Big house, pretty wife, new baby, dream job."

"Awesome. Never would have any of it if it wasn't for Ape." Punk said to him. "It's about finding the right one."

"I get that." Nico said to him. "I'm thinking about asking Celeste to marry me."

"Good for you." Punk said to him.

"I'm telling you because I need you to help me pick out the ring. She's always saying what a great job you did picking out April's and I know it's her subtle way of telling me to ask you before I buy it." Nico said to him.

"As long as Ape doesn't have the baby anytime soon I'm free." He said to him.

"Well that can be any minute now." Nico smirked. "Getting nervous?"

"About the delivery I am." Punk admitted.

"Why? I thought the baby was all good?" Nico questioned.

"Yea she is and Ape is in great health too but I just won't feel better until the baby is in my arms crying and the doctor tells me everything is good." Punk admitted.

"I'd be nervous about after the baby is born." Nico admitted. "When I thought I was going to be a dad all I kept thinking was how could I be a parent when I had two bad examples? What if the kid doesn't even like me? What if something happens when I'm not around? Because let's face it your kid gets older you can't be around 24/7 anymore."

"True." Punk said thinking about it.

"If it started to cry would I know how to make him feel better?" Nico asked aloud. "What if I feed him when he needs to be changed or what if I turn my back and the kid rolls of the bed?"

"That is a lot to consider." Punk said thinking about it.

"But you and Ape seem ready I'm sure you'll be fine." Nico assured him.

"Right." Punk said now having his own doubts.

"Hey." Cliff said walking right into the kitchen and over to them.

"I thought you were going to Atlanta?" Nico asked.

"Did Amy have the baby?" Punk asked.

"I was about to get on a plane to Atlanta when her parents finally returned my calls." Cliff said to him. "You two aren't going to believe this shit."

"What?" Nico asked.

"Amy can't carry a baby to term." Cliff informed them. "She's too old and there's some issue with her eggs I really didn't understand the science part so imagine their surprise when I told them Amy was having my baby."

"Wait so how is she pregnant?" Nico asked him.

"She told her parents she was adopting a baby would be moving to Atlanta in a few weeks with her." Cliff said to them. "She's not pregnant and I don't think she ever was."

"Wait a second- what?" Punk asked slowly.

"She fucking lied." Cliff spat. "I went back to the apartment to see if she came back and she wasn't there so I went through some of her receipts looking for something as proof that she really is pregnant even though I had never been to a doctors appointment, seen a sonogram or felt the baby kick and a few weeks back she went to the grocery store and was buying tampons. I'm not a doctor or anything but I don't think she needs those pregnant. I checked in her bathroom and the box was more than half empty."

"She's been lying this whole time?" Punk asked again. "What is she doing with all of that baby stuff?"

"Maybe she really is planning on adopting." Cliff said to them. "But why would she lie? Why wouldn't we know about it? And how would she get a baby so fast?"

"That's really weird. But it makes sense. She never felt ill like April did during pregnancy." Nico noted. "She looked way healthier than April actually."

"You never went to the doctors with her or asked to go?" Punk asked Cliff.

"No she always told me she preferred to go alone and not to fight her on it." Cliff shrugged. "I'm an idiot aren't I?"

"No." Punk said to him.

"All of these months preparing and getting excited for what? Nothing." he frowned.

"Did you try calling her?" Nico asked.

"A hundred times." Cliff said to him. "I haven't heard from her in days now I'm starting to wonder if she went off the deep end."

"I think she went off the deep end months ago." Punk said to him.

"Her parents are concerned too." Cliff told them. "They keep calling me asking if I've seen her."

"I just wonder what the hell she was preparing for." Nico said to them. "She seemed positive she was having a baby and she really seemed to think she as pregnant. Are you sure about this?"

"Her parents were with her when she lost her son and the doctor told her that she'd never be able to carry pass six months." Cliff said to him. "Two weeks ago I saw her and she was almost nine apparently."

"You need to go back to that apartment and rip it apart." Nico encouraged. "Look for clues as to where she went and demand to know why she lied and lead you on for nine months." he ordered his friend.

"What are you thinking?" Cliff asked Punk.

"You're going to think I'm crazy." Punk warned them.

"Crazier than this story? Try me." Cliff mocked.

"Ape kept having dreams that Amy was going to steal the baby from her." Punk told them.

"No way." Nico said shaking his head but Cliff was quiet.

"She was always asking me about how April was doing." Cliff had to admit.

"This is insane." Nico said to them. "No way."

"She warned April that things go wrong after birth, she's shown up everywhere that Ape has been." Punk reminded them. "She's always been way more into April's pregnancy than her own."

"No." Nico laughed. "Just no way. How would she even get the baby?"

"I'm not saying the plan was thought all the way through or anything. Clearly she hasn't been right mentally since she lost the baby." Punk noted. "I mean we all said it. And she was buying baby stuff the minute she found out April was pregnant."

"That's because Amy said she was pregnant too." Nico argued.

"Which we now know she isn't." Cliff added.

"Why are you defending her?" Punk asked him.

"I'm not I just think it's a big step from grieving to plotting to kidnap a child." Nico argued. "We know Amy. She's been our friend for years. What did she think? She'd show up with my niece and I wouldn't know it?"

"Her parents were under the impression that she was staying in Atlanta permanently." Cliff said to them. "Has April seen her around? Where is April by the way?"

"She's at the new house." Punk said pulling out his phone.

"Call her." Cliff said to him.

"I think this is crazy." Nico said to them but Punk called April anyway.

"Still no baby." April answered into the phone.

"Well I would hope you'd call me if you had her." Punk smirked into the phone. "Where are you?"

"I just left the new house and am in the car." April said to him. "Did you talk to Nico?"

"I did and he's more than happy to have dinner with you and your father." Punk assured her and Nico rolled his eyes.

"Oh good!" April said relieved. "I'll be there soon since I have nothing else to do and am starving."

"Dinner is at 7 and it's 5 are you sure you want to eat so close?" Punk asked.

"I am starving. I could eat six dinners before 7 and still eat 2 more dishes than." April warned him.

"Right." Punk said to her. "I'll see you soon."

"K." April said then hung up.

"She's fine." Punk said to them.

"See?" Nico pointed out. "April is fine."

"I've got to try to find her." Cliff said running his hand through his hair. "I can't believe how excited I got to be for nine months to find out it was a lie."

"I'm sorry." Punk said to him. "The right woman will come along eventually."

"It's not about that. The point is two hours ago I was going to be a dad and bonded with a baby that never even fucking existed!" Cliff shouted then stormed out of the kitchen.

"This is so fucked up." Punk said watching Cliff leave. "Should we go after him?"

"Give him a few hours." Nico suggested. "He just needs to get some answers."

April was about to pull around the huge circular driveway when she realized she forgot the two items she came for. Her I-Pod and the baby's dress. Pregnancy brain was a real thing and April was suffering hard from it. She ended up grabbing clothes and other baby items instead of what she really needed. She turned the car off and walked to the front door with her keys in her hands and walked back into the huge home.

It literally took April's breath away to be in her first real house. And it wasn't just because she had a better house than her Barbie's dream house but because she knew this was going to be the home she grew old in. Her and Phil would raise their children here, make memories with them, send them off to college and eventually have their own grandchildren here. She knew her and Phil were going to give their child a better life than she had. She cringed when she thought of her family home but she'd make sure Nadia never did.

April walked up the tremendous spiral staircase and let her hand slide along the marble banister. She was literally on cloud nine whenever she was in the house. She was hesitant to move at first because she liked her small apartment with Phil but this house was gorgeous and the best part was that it was a new home that was only built last year so they'd be the first family to live there.

"Where is it?" April asked opening up a box. "What am I looking for again?" she asked herself using the flashlight installed on her phone to look through a box. "Oh the dress." she said to herself closing that box and walking across the hall from the master bedroom where Nadia's nursery was located.

"Clothes, clothes, clothes." April mumbled to herself opening up a few boxes. "Ah-ha!" she cheered pulling out the dress.

April then closed her door and the master bedroom door and was halfway down the stairs when she realized she was forgetting something else.

"The I-Pod!" she shouted annoyed with herself and turned quickly on the step except the stairs were marble as well and slid back and fell down the large staircase.

April literally rolled down the stairs until finally crashing at the bottom. The items in her purse were sprawled out everywhere and her head was bleeding a little from the impact.

"Oh no." April cried realizing the baby could be hurt and tried to sit up. "Nadia?" she asked her stomach. "Fetus?" she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and cried out.

April saw her phone lying a few feet away from her and tried to reach for it.

"Oh god." She groaned in agony as she stretched her arm out.

"April!" a voice yelled from the top of the stairs.

April was now sure this was a nightmare because why was Amy in her new home? Why was she already here? Clearly she came from a room upstairs. April squinted her eyes and saw Amy rushing down the stairs.

"Is it the baby?" Amy asked.

"It hurts." April cried unable to question Amy but just hoped she'd help her.

"I'm going to help you." Amy promised. "Don't worry." she said but April noticed she had her hand over her stomach and spoke to it rather than her herself. "Hang on Mackenzie."

"What?" April asked confused but she was starting to lose consciousness.

It was now almost 7 and April still wasn't at the restaurant but her father was and sitting at a table between him and Nico was one of the most uncomfortable things Punk had ever done in his life. He kept checking his phone waiting on April to call and he was growing worried.

"Maybe she had car trouble?" Nico suggested. "I wouldn't worry."

"I always worry about her." Punk gritted out.

"Good man." Nico Sr. smiled.

"I'm going to call her again and if she doesn't answer I'm going to the house." Punk said but as he went to dial his phone rang. "Hello?" he asked "Yea this is he...when?"

"What is it?" Nico asked seeing the fear on Punk's face.

"April was in an accident." Punk said already standing up but so was the other two men at the table. "She's in the hospital and she's having the baby-"

"I'll drive." Nico said grabbing his keys but dropped them due to his nervous hands.

"You're too nervous yourself." Nico Sr. scolded picking the keys up. "I'll drive you both." he was already out the door.