Little Bit Later


5 months later…

"How is she doing?" AJ asked, sitting in the hospital cafeteria as she saw Punk walk in and approach the table she was at. It was through the night so the cafeteria was really only serving purpose for a seat. She had however spent some money on the vending machine.

"Yeah, she's ok." Punk nodded, "She was a little upset but she's doing good." He said, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from her, "Seth's keeping her going. He's been good." Punk said.

"Did you meet the parents?" AJ asked him, playing around with the wrapper from her candy bar she'd eaten earlier on.

"I didn't meet them. I saw them with the baby though, and Cami gets to find out what they're gonna call him so, we'll have a name at least." Punk nodded.

"If you want to see him, you can." AJ reminded him, "He's your nephew at the end of the day."

"No, I think it'll be too hard. He's got a family, a good one by the looks of it, that's what Cami and Seth wanted and.. it's what I want." He said, "She just… must have a lot of strength. It's not something I think I could do."

"Yeah." AJ nodded, "I'm sorry I didn't stay around upstairs. I got kinda freaked out." She admitted truthfully as Punk smiled.

"I get it." Punk smiled, "The doctors didn't want too many people around anyway." He said, "But you can go see Cami now, she was asking for you." He nodded.

"I don't really know what to say. What's the right thing to say? I can't say congratulations or well done. It's… it doesn't really serve its purpose does it?" AJ sighed.

"Try not overthink it." Punk said, "Just, talk to her like you normally would." He nodded.

"Ok." AJ nodded, taking a deep breath.

"Have you been making friends with the vending machine, I see." Punk chuckled a little, noticing the few wrappers and the empty can of soda sitting.

"The baby wants sugar." AJ shrugged, "So I gave it sugar."

"You're never gonna be able to say no to it, are you?" He laughed a little as AJ looked down at her five month pregnant bump, shaking her head and rubbing it.

"Probably not." She shook her head as Punk smiled, "Ok, I should probably leave here before I buy more chocolate." She said, standing up from the table and tucking the chair in as Punk smiled at her.

When they found out she was pregnant, it was of course a very big shock and something they were still trying to adapt to, however, it almost seemed like it was the little shimmer of light they were given throughout all the stress they were under around them. They weren't quite sure what they were doing about the whole situation, but they weren't freaking out, they didn't see the point. They were taking it a day at a time, and supporting one another as best they could.

"I feel like this bump is just a constant reminder for Cami." AJ admitted, walking out of the cafeteria with Punk. She had a little petite bump, nothing too big but still visible that she was pregnant.

"No, it's not. She's happy for us." Punk said, "You know she is. Sure she's gonna need some time after this, it's certainly not been easy, I think it's been harder than she expected, but she'll get there, she'll be ok." Punk nodded. He had every confidence in his sister as she had portrayed a lot of strength during her own pregnancy and had given birth to a baby boy whom had gone straight to his adoptive parents.

"Have you heard from Dean?" AJ asked him as they took the elevator up to the correct floor.

"No." Punk shook his head, "I don't know what I'm supposed to say to him anymore. He's been checked into rehab twice, and checked himself out both times. He needs to do it for him, no one else." He said, "Every time that I try talk to him he just throws it back at me. And Lia is at breaking point, she's been staying with her mom with Eva the entire time." He said as AJ sighed.

"What's Ian been saying?" AJ asked.

"Nothing. He doesn't wanna fire him but… how can he keep him on when he's either not showing up or he's showing up drunk?" Punk asked, "This… this is what happened last time. He started off just drinking lightly, then it got worse, we tried to help him, he didn't want to help himself, and then he finally opened his eyes once he was hospitalised."

"Surely he won't let it get to that." AJ sighed, "Lia is heartbroken by it all. Can't he just… stay in the rehab facility?"

"He can check himself out, it's his decision." Punk said, "I've talked and I've talked to him. He knows the only person that can help him is himself at this point. I think what's scaring him the most is… he knew how hard it was the last time, getting off of it." Punk said, walking along the corridor with her.

"There must be something we can do." AJ sighed.

"Just keep being there for him. Talking to him. Showing him all the things that he's gonna lose, because he will, he will lose it if he keeps going down this road. I can't force him to stop drinking, I learned that the first time." Punk said as AJ nodded.

"He's got such a good life too. Why… Why ruin it?" AJ sighed, "I know addiction is different, difficult, probably something I wouldn't understand but… he's got a beautiful girlfriend, a daughter, a great job… I just… I'd hate to see him lose it all." She shook her head.

"You and me both." Punk sighed.

Dean had been a continuous worry on their minds, especially Punks. He was continuing to drink and after two attempts at rehab, he'd almost given up on helping himself. He was beginning to slip off the edge way too much. Lia had moved out temporarily with Eva as they were constantly fighting and she didn't want Eva around him when he was drunk. Ian had let him off on sick pay but had talked with Punk about the fact he may possibly need to fire him if he continued the way he was. It was breaking Punk's heart to see someone he saw as a brother in this much sadness and pain.

The only real light in his life at the minute that he and AJ were both trying to focus on, in their own little private world, was their baby. It was a shock and not something they had planned to be doing so early, but it almost felt like their escape, something private for them both to share together intimately. Neither had a cool about what to do but they were sure they'd figure it out.

They eventually arrived at Cami's room, walking on in where she was sitting up in bed with Seth sitting beside her. Although his relationship crumbled as expected, Seth had been helping Cami as much as he could, and she appreciated the support, she really needed it towards the end.

"Hey." AJ smiled to Cami who smiled tiredly back at her, "How you feeling?" AJ asked her.

"I'm ok." Cami nodded, "Tired." She said as AJ nodded, "How are you?" She asked.

"I'm fine." AJ smiled, "Althought I think I've ate too much." She admitted truthfully as Seth and Cami smiled.

"Won't be long until you're here." Seth said as AJ nodded and took a deep breath.

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me." AJ nodded nervously as Seth smiled, "Was it sore?" She cringed a little as Cami nodded, watching as Punk stood behind AJ and shook his head at her.

"Uh well…" Cami changed her mind once noticing Punk, "I mean it was over really quickly that's the main thing, right?" She shrugged as AJ just nodded casually. Although they were dealing with the news of the baby very well, AJ was still very worried. Punk knew that if she didn't have anything to worry about she'd find something to worry about.

"When you getting out?" AJ asked her, sitting down on the chair beside the bed.

"Tomorrow my doctor said." Cami nodded, "I just wanna be out." She said as AJ nodded, turning her head once she heard the door open where Cami's doctor walked in.

"Hey." The doctor smiled, "The couple adopting the baby wanted me to let you know his name." She nodded as Cami sat up a little, "They've named him Cody." She said as Cami raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"That's a nice name." Cami said as the doctor nodded.

"Let me know if you need anything." The doctor said politely, leaving the room as AJ just turned to Cami who rested her head back on the pillow.

"Nice name, huh?" Cami turned to Seth who nodded and smiled softly to her.

"Yeah, it's nice." Seth nodded. They'd met with the parents who were adopting their son. They were great people who were financially stable, smart and so desperate for a child. It was the perfect outcome in Cami's defence and she was so glad her son was going to have loving parents. She was never in doubt that she couldn't love her baby, but more so with everything else that comes with caring for one.


"I'm tired." AJ moaned a little, getting into bed once they got home, sitting against the headboard and crossing her legs in a basket as Punk stripped around the opposite side and got in beside her, "But I don't think I can sleep." She frowned.

"Why not?" Punk asked her, "I'm up in…" He turned around to the clock, "Four hours." He groaned to himself, curling his pillow over his head as AJ looked at him.

"So am I. You're not special." She reminded him as he just smiled, "Do you think my parents will come see me when I have the baby?" She asked him as Punk turned to her.

"Why wouldn't they?" Punk asked.

"Well they never showed up for Sofia's trial." AJ said, "It was just Dominic and Sofia's family." She said, "They surely don't expect me to be the one going over to them all the time, right?" She said.

"I'd imagine their first grandchild is a big deal to them. I'd be surprised if they didn't come see you." He said, "Does feel kinda weird considering I've not met them and we're having a baby." He said as she nodded.

"Yeah well they know where I am." AJ shook her head.

"Please don't get worked up about it." Punk sighed, "I bet the baby feels when you're stressed." He said.

"Well I apologise." AJ spoke to her stomach, placing her hand on the bump, "Oh." She jumped a little as Punk sat up with worry, "Is that it…" She felt around her bump, "Oh my God, it's kicking." She grabbed his hand immediately and placed it over her bump as he raised his eyebrows and smiled.

"Jesus." Punk laughed a little, "That must feel weird." He shook his head as AJ smiled and looked down.

"It is weird." AJ agreed, "But it's nice." She shook her head as Punk smiled, kissing her cheek, continuing to feel around her stomach when he was turned away to answer his phone on the bedside table.

"It's Lia." Punk sighed as AJ frowned. He answered the phone and listened to Lia, "Yeah, I'll be there just keep him there just now." He nodded, "I'll be as quick as I can." He said, hanging up and getting out of bed.

"Phil, where are you going?" AJ sighed.

"Dean is at Lia's moms house. He's trying to take Eva. He's out his face." Punk said, shoving some clothes back on as AJ sighed.

"You need to sleep." AJ said worriedly.

"Not as much as you do." Punk pointed out, "I'll be fine. Ian can give me a couple of days off towards the end of the week." He said, "You get to sleep and don't worry." He told her, walking around the bed and giving her a gentle kiss as he pulled away and left the bedroom to head out.