The Cool Down


Punk got home later that night after taking a detour to his mothers. Emotions were running high and he felt bad for storming out, and he also felt bad for being so verbally aggressive. He never wanted that, but his anger and emotions got the better of him. It wasn't something he could take so lightly. This was a baby. Their baby.

He walked through the door and into the living room where AJ was lying up on the couch watching TV in the darkness. He switched on a few of the lamps in the corners to give some light as AJ watched him. She was afraid he wasn't going to come back.

"What are you watching?" Punk asked her, looking over at the TV.

"I don't know." AJ shook her head truthfully. She had just been laying thinking to herself for the past few hours. Her mind was spinning, and she assumed he was coming back to tell her that this wasn't going to work, that they wanted different things and he couldn't forgive her for lying to him. She immediately thought the worst.

"Can we talk?" He asked her, walking over and sitting down on the couch as she curled her legs up to give him space, slowly but surely sitting up, "Talk. Not… Not shout." Punk nodded as she hugged her knees and looked over to him.

"I am sorry." She told him, "I didn't do it to hurt you. Surely you don't think that." She said.

"I know you didn't." Punk nodded, "But… keeping it from me wasn't gonna benefit anyone. It… It wasn't going to make it go away." He said, "And the fact you were scared to tell me makes me think you… you thought I would leave you or walk out on you." He said, "Is that what you thought?"

"No." AJ shook her head, "I don't know what I thought." She sighed, "I know you're so busy with work. You're out of town sometimes. You barely have time to see me so… I… I thought you'd feel like this was just another burden." She shrugged.

"I wouldn't think that." Punk shook his head, "I don't think you're a burden and I don't think this baby is either." He said, "I'm still… trying to wrap my head around it. It's a lot to process but… I'm gonna be there, one hundred percent." He nodded to her as she smiled, "And you shouldn't be afraid. You shouldn't be afraid of telling me anything, and you shouldn't be afraid of having the baby either, because you'll be great." He nodded to her, "And there will be time to still do what you want to do. I will happily stay here with the kid whilst you're at university." He nodded as she smiled to herself.

"It's just so soon." AJ took a deep breath as Punk nodded.

"I know." Punk nodded "I know it's a surprise but… we'll deal with it and we'll be ok. That's the main thing." He said as AJ nodded along with him, "I'm sorry for getting angry there." He said, "I shouldn't have lost it like that and… I wasn't… I wasn't trying to hurt you. I was just upset you didn't tell me sooner."

"I would have but it's just been so crazy." She said, "I still can't believe it." She shook her head.

"Me neither." Punk nodded, playing with his hands as he looked down, "But you don't have to be so scared. We'll be fine." He said, "Dean and Renee were exactly like this, they were terrified and they didn't know what to do and now they're like… the best mom and dad ever." He said as AJ smiled, "No one is gonna prepare us. Ever. Not now. Not in ten year's time." He said.

"That's what Renee said." AJ nodded.

"That's what I told her when she came to me when she was pregnant." Punk smiled, "Must have stuck with her." He said.

"I know we'll be ok." AJ nodded, "I just… I feel so unprepared and like… I've just been thrown in the deep end over-night." She said, "But… it helps that we're in this together." She said. It really did make a difference to know he was here and that he wasn't going to leave. She felt stupid for not telling him sooner but she really was just frightened.

"We are." Punk nodded, "We're in it together and I'm not… I'm not gonna let you down. Not you or the baby." He said as she smiled.

"I'm sorry for not telling you." AJ said, shuffling over to him and wrapping her arms around him from the side as he placed his hand on her arm, letting her rest her head on his shoulder, "I just didn't know how to handle it." She told him truthfully.

"It's ok." He nodded, "It's a big thing, I'm… I'm just as scared as you are." He nodded, "But we'll be ok." He nodded, turning his head and kissing her temple as she smiled and rested into him, feeling his arm around her as they sat back on the couch.

It was all still very fresh and scary, but it was something that was very much happening, and they had to deal with that, together rather than apart.


The next morning, AJ woke up to an amazing smelling breakfast, getting out of bed and getting dressed before heading downstairs. Last night they made up under the sheets, and there really was a greater acknowledgment for their baby, as she remembered falling asleep with his hand on her stomach, with hers over it. It didn't seem as scary when they were facing it together, and it frustrated her that she hadn't told him from the beginning.

"Something smells good in here." AJ smiled, walking through the kitchen, greeting Milo as she walked over to the island in the kitchen where Punk had made pancakes with everything to go with it, "You didn't have to make all of this." She shook her head, "Although… it does smell amazing." She said, sitting up on one of the stools and reaching for a pancake.

"Well I know they're your favourite." He said, "Are you working today?" He asked her, buttoning up the rest of his shirt, already running late for work.

"No. I just have a class." She told him, "I'm not sure… what I'm gonna do about work and my classes." She admitted, "I can finish my year before the baby is here and then maybe take some online classes for the next year." She shrugged, "Work I guess I can just put in for paid leave." She shrugged.

"You'll work something out." Punk nodded, "We'll sit down and talk about it." He assured her as she nodded.

"So since your mom now knows, and Renee knows, it's really only Dean who is left to find out." She said as Punk nodded.

"Maybe we can get them round for dinner or something." Punk said, "If you're up to that." He said as she just nodded.

"Yeah. You know I think the more people that know, is making feel better." She said, "I thought it'd be the opposite way around." She shook her head.

"I'll drop Dean a text later on." He said, "I wish I could stay longer but I'm already running late." He told her as she just nodded, "I'll see you late on, ok?" He said, walking around the island, pressing a kiss against her lips as she kissed back.

"Have a good day." AJ nodded as he rushed out of the kitchen and out of the house as she finished off the rest of the pancakes he had made, feeling her appetite larger than usual. It felt like a fresh start when she woke up. There were no lies, everything was out in the open and they were taking this challenge and rolling with it. In fact, for the first-time last night, when she felt his hands on her tummy, she got excited butterflies. She just felt really stupid now for not telling him from the beginning, but it was done now, and she felt like they were back on track again.


"Knock knock." Lance said as he walked in the door of Punk's office, ironically without knocking as he saw Punk on the phone raising his hand for him to be quiet whilst he took the call, "Jeez, secret diary of a call girl." Lance murmured as Punk just rolled his eyes and concentrated on the phone call, eventually hanging up and looking over.

"What is it?" Punk said. He was good friends with Lance but he was weary of him ever since he had showed up at his house uninvited, and sat with AJ because he was apparently worried about the storm outside.

"Did you get those forms I emailed you last night?" Lance asked, walking further into the office.

"No, I was busy." Punk said, "I'll do them just now."

"What's the point in labelling the subject 'EMERGENCY' when you don't even read your emails." Lance laughed a little.

"I was busy, alright?" Punk snapped as Lance backed off and looked across at him.

"What's wrong with you?" Lance asked, "You're extra annoying today."

"Nothing is wrong with me." Punk said, "I got a case in a few weeks to start. I can do the work here but the trial is in California." He groaned a little, "It's a murder case so I'll be there for six or seven weeks." He said.

"And what's the problem?" Lance shook his head.

"Well it's not a car ride away, is it?" Punk said, "I got a girlfriend, you've met her, right?" He digged a little as Lance nodded.

"Take her with you." Lance said.

"She has work and classes here." Punk shook his head, "She's pregnant." He said as Lance's eyebrows raised.

"Get the fuck out of here." Lance said, taking a seat across from the desk as Punk nodded, "Is she really?"

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "She's due in six months." He said, forgetting to add in that he'd just found out.

"Well congratulations, man." Lance nodded, "You didn't wait about, did you?"

"Wasn't planned." Punk said, "Nevertheless it's happening." He nodded.

"Well look at is this way. Would you rather be on a case when she's near her due date, or would you rather be on a case soon when it's still early days?" Lance said as Punk nodded, seeing a good point, "And plus, you can fly her out every now and then when she's got a few days off." He shrugged.

"I just don't want her to get the wrong impression that… I'm always gonna be up and leaving." Punk said.

"But she understands your job. That night I spoke to her we were talking about it and she was ok with you having to take time away sometimes. She knows it comes with your job." Lance nodded, "Don't sweat over it, man."

"I never got the chance to apologise to you for… how I acted that night." Punk admitted, "It had been a long day, the trial wasn't going my way and well… I know your record with women." He said.

"What? You thought I was trying to put it on her?" Lance shook his head as Punk nodded, "No, I was dropping those things off and the storm was terrifying outside so I just stayed to keep her company." He shrugged, "I'm happy for you guys. I got kids of my own. It's an amazing thing." He said as Punk just nodded.

"We're both pretty nervous but… I know we'll be ok." He nodded.

"Of course you will." Lance said, "And don't worry about having to work away, you'll come to find that sometimes a little bit of space is healthy." He winked as Punk just shook his head.

"Nah, I'm not you." Punk said.

"What does that mean?" Lance laughed.

"Well you think I'm gonna marry her and settle down and then use my job to get out of my responsibilities and sleep with other women when I'm in different states." Punk said, "I would never do that."

"Well congratulations, you're a saint." Lance said as Punk nodded in agreement, "I need those forms printed off as soon as possible." He stood up from the chair, "We're already running behind." He said as Punk just nodded, watching him leave the office.


"Hey." Punk smiled later that night, walking into their bedroom where AJ was standing in a towel, one leg up on the bed as she put on some moisturiser after her shower. It was a sight he enjoyed coming home to.

"Hi." AJ smiled, "How was your day?" She asked, switching legs as Punk collapsed flat on his back on the bed, turning his head.

"Better now with this view." He said as AJ put her foot down.

"Don't look up my towel." AJ laughed a little as Punk just smirked to himself, "That bad, huh?" She asked him, placing the moisturiser back into the bathroom as Punk ran his hands over his face.

"So many phone calls that I fell asleep during. So many reports and forms. And a fucking intern spilled coffee all down my pants." He shook his head.

"Oh, baby. You had a day." She nodded.

"Mhm." Punk sighed, "Dean got back to me. They're gonna come around for dinner tomorrow. I can just order in if we can't be bothered cooking." He waved his hand.

"No, we'll cook." AJ said, "I'll think of something." She said, "I don't have university or work tomorrow so I'll have time." He said.

"I got the day off but not really because I gotta do some work here." He rolled his eyes, "I'll try get it all out the way in the morning." He said, sitting up, "I gotta tell you something." He said as she looked over at him wearily.

"Are you pregnant too?" She teased, walking over to him.

"I think one is enough just now." He laughed, "I'm gonna be gone in a few weeks." He said as AJ looked down at him sat at the end of the bed, "I got a case in California. I'll be there for… six or seven weeks." He said as AJ just nodded slowly, "But… I can fly you out whenever you've got time off and I'll call you every day." He said, "I can't… I can't get out of it." He said.

"Of course you can't." AJ said in a soothing voice, "It's your job." She said, playing with the collar of his shirt, "I understand." She said as Punk nodded. She knew it was bound to happen at some point, him working on a trial in another state, "You'll be at the next scan in two weeks, right?" She said.

"Yeah. I got a few weeks here before I head out." He nodded, "I'm gonna suss the case out here and then head on over." He told her, "It's not gonna be like that when the baby comes." He promised, "I'll get time off and I'll be put on cases that are close to home." He said as AJ nodded.

"Phil, it's ok. I'll miss you but… it's your job. I'll fly out to see you when I get the chance and… we can call and you can write me a letter if you like." She said, flicking his chin playfully as he laughed.

"That takes up way too much of my time." He said playfully as AJ smiled, "Thank you." He said, he appreciated how easy she was being about it, "You'll have my mom and Renee and Dean here if you need anything anyway." He said as AJ nodded.

"I'll be fine." AJ smiled to him, "Don't worry." She said, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss on his lips as he placed his hands on her waist, pulling down her towel and pulling her on top of him as she giggled, working their way up the bed eagerly.

She didn't see any reason to get mad. This was his job and she knew what it consisted of sometimes. She knew she'd be just fine, even though of course she'd miss him. She just hoped it wouldn't become too much for him to be in a different state when they had a little baby to think of.


A/N: Let me know what you think!