Love
"I can't believe you're having a kid." Dean shook his head, standing in the kitchen with Punk the next night. They were clearing up from dinner whilst AJ, Renee, Bella and Grace were in the living room.
"Me neither." Punk said truthfully, putting the plates in the dishwasher whilst Dean cleared the counter, "It still hasn't sunk in yet." He said.
"It won't until it's here, probably." Dean said, "But man, your life is gonna change." He laughed a little, "Not in a bad way of course." He added as Punk just laughed.
"I hope not." He said, "I am excited. I mean… I'm more nervous than excited but… it's a cool thing. Didn't think it'd be happening so soon but it is." He said, shutting the dishwasher and turning it on, "I'm hoping for a boy." He said. Now that the shock had died down a little, he was thinking about the future, and he was getting excited about the baby, he was terribly nervous too, but the excitement was showing itself for sure.
"Well at least you know there's a fifty percent chance." Dean smiled, "What's wrong with a girl?" He laughed a little.
"Too much damn stress, that's what." Punk said.
"True. Bella gives me stress right now and she's only three." Dean said, "She tells me she has a boyfriend from daycare." He rolled his eyes, "And then Renee gets mad with me because I tell her she's not allowed boyfriends, and then she cries and then I feel bad but not really because you know, she's three, she shouldn't have a boyfriend." Dean said.
"You don't need that stress." Punk shook his head.
"I don't." Dean agreed, "But hey, it's a good thing. You'll be a great dad. All this bullshit about you know, not having a role model look up to is… well, it's bullshit." He nodded, "I had no dad and I'm doing alright." He nodded, "You'll be fine."
"Hopefully." Punk nodded, "I'm here for another three weeks then I'm out of state for six or seven weeks." He said.
"Oh, where you off to?" Dean asked.
"California." Punk said, "AJ is super cool with it, which helps, she knows it's part of my job and I'm gonna fly her out at any point I can." He said, "And I promised her it won't be like that when the baby is here. Not for a while anyway. I'll take the time off and then I'll work locally." He said as Dean nodded.
"Yeah, man. It'll all fit into place." Dean said, "How is AJ dealing with it? Is she excited?"
"She is now." Punk nodded, "I think the more she talks with Renee and mom she gets more excited about it. She was absolutely terrified at the start, I think she still is on some level but… things are definitely looking brighter." He said, "I love her, you know. We would have been settling down with kids at some point, things have just sped up a little." He said.
"You guys will be great." Dean nodded, "There's nothing like it. Just… don't sing or dance in the delivery room. I thought it would maybe distract Renee from the pain." He said as Punk laughed, "Oh, no. She didn't like it."
"Yeah, no kidding. She asked the nurse to escort you out of the room." Punk laughed, "I was surprised she let you back in for the actual birth."
"Well, I thought I was calming her down." Dean shrugged, "Obviously not." He said as Punk just took a deep breath.
"All of that stuff does scare me a little." He admitted, "And it's my kid, you know. It's not a trial run or anything." He said.
"You'll be fine." Dean nodded, patting Punk on the shoulder, "The kid is gonna be super lucky." He smiled as Punk just nodded.
Meanwhile, AJ was sat with Grace and Renee, talking about the baby all the not so glamorous things to expect when expecting. AJ was a little overwhelmed by the baby talk, but she didn't want to tell them that. Although she was coming to get excited about it, especially with having a family around to support her and Punk, she was still very nervous and scared.
"Can we please throw you a shower?" Renee asked desperately, "I've never thrown anyone a shower before."
"I-I don't know anybody here." AJ shook her head with a small smile.
"What about people from work? Your university?" Renee asked.
"I don't really talk to them." AJ said, "I've not made much friends here." She laughed a little.
"Then we'll take you for lunch one day." Grace said, "Just us girls. My treat." Grace said as Renee nodded.
"You guys don't have to." AJ said, "I don't need special treatment." She said modestly.
"When you can't bend over to tie your shoe laces, yes you do." Renee said, "It's an exciting time." She smiled as AJ nodded, "Are you nervous?" She asked.
"I'm more nervous than I am excited I think." AJ admitted.
"That's normal." Grace nodded, "It's a life-changing thing but it is… so worth it. Your life will have a new meaning."
"I'm just not sure how I'll be on my own when Phil… has to go to different states for work." She admitted, "He's going in a few weeks to California, and I know I'll be fine but… when the baby is here, I don't know how I'll be." She admitted, "And I know it's his job, it's not that I'm mad that he has to go but I'm just worried I won't be able to… do it on my own."
"April, he's not going to go back to work two days after you have the baby." Renee said, "He'll have time off and he'll work locally. You might not see it, I didn't see it in Dean until Bella was born, but he's gonna love that baby." She said as Grace nodded in agreement.
"He's not very sensitive or emotional." Grace added, "But for the right things." She nodded as AJ smiled.
"I am excited. I just don't want to screw it up." She shook her head.
"No one is perfect at parenting. Trust me." Grace laughed a little, "You'll be great." She said, rubbing her hand softly as AJ smiled.
She was so glad to be surrounded by so many positive people and to have a family around her that loved her and was there to help her. The more and more she actually spoke about the baby, the more it didn't seem as scary. Having been bottling it up only in her head was what had scared her the most, because she didn't have anyone to assure her like she did now.
A few weeks later, AJ was at her second scan and this time it felt more real because she had her boyfriend with her. He was leaving for California in two days, and had been working like crazy for the past few weeks, but he was making sure he made time for her, which she appreciated.
She didn't want him to leave. She enjoyed falling asleep in bed with him, where his hand sat on her stomach and they began to talk about the future with their baby. It was beginning to seem more and more ideal than ever before, and she really didn't want him to go, but she knew he had to.
Over the past few weeks, she had developed a little bump. It was more so noticeable because she was slim, and any little change did make an impression on her.
"How have you been feeling, April?" Her nurse, Mandy asked as AJ sat up on the bed whilst Punk sat beside her on a chair, "How is the morning sickness?" She asked whilst getting the equipment set up.
"It's been much better." AJ nodded, "It's still there sometimes but it's nowhere near as bad as it was at the start." AJ told her.
"That's great." Mandy said, "Any cravings yet? I love to hear what people crave. You hear some odd things." She laughed a little as AJ smiled.
"Apple pie." Punk answered for her.
"Well that's pretty normal." Mandy laughed a little, "The combinations I've heard are sometimes horrific." She said as AJ just smiled, "Ok, roll up your t-shirt for me." She said as AJ shuffled her t-shirt up, watching her put the cool gel on it as she began to run the probe over her stomach, "Ok, let's see if we can get a clear image." She smiled.
Punk gazed over at the monitor with awe. It was surreal to see the baby, even if it was a black and white, grainy image, it was still their baby, and it was amazing.
"Are things ok?" AJ asked nervously as Mandy smiled and nodded.
"Everything looks perfect." Mandy said, "Growth is perfect." She said, "You see it?" She asked them.
"Is that circle thing it's head?" Punk pointed as AJ laughed a little.
"Yes, that circle thing." Mandy smiled, "Here is the head." She pointed out in the monitor, "Arms, legs…" She pointed out everything to them as AJ smiled, turning to Punk who was smiling just as much as she was. It was becoming a part of their lives already, and even thought it got off to a shocking and confusing start, it really was beginning to feel real, especially when they saw it so clearly on the monitor.
"Do you know what it is?" Punk asked her.
"I can tell you if you like." She said as Punk turned to AJ.
"I don't think I want to know." AJ admitted, "I want it to be a surprise." She shrugged as Punk nodded.
"Sometimes it's better to wait." Mandy nodded, "Makes it an even more special moment at the birth." She said.
"It's up to you." Punk said to AJ.
"We can wait." AJ nodded as Punk smiled.
"That's really it?" Punk asked, nodding to the monitor as Mandy nodded and smiled.
"Yeah." Mandy said, "And everything looks healthy. I'm gonna get the heartbeat up to have a listen." She told them as they nodded, waiting patiently as the swooshing noise suddenly filled the air.
"It's so steady." AJ smiled in awe as Mandy nodded.
"It's great." Mandy said as AJ looked at the monitor, tears welling in her eyes as she realised how much this was beginning to mean to her, "I'll give you both a minute." She said, sitting down the probe and leaving the room as AJ turned to Punk who smiled to her, taking her hand and kissing it as AJ wiped her tears.
"It's so real." AJ laughed through her happy tears as Punk nodded.
"It's amazing." Punk said, "Why are you crying?" He smiled softly, drying her tears as she just shook her head.
"I don't know." She laughed through her tears, "I just… the first time I saw it I wasn't like this." She said, "I really should have just told you." She shook her head.
"Hey, we're passed that." Punk shook his head, cupping her cheek softly, "Tugging on your heart already, huh?" He asked her as she nodded.
"I'm so nervous but… I can't wait to meet it." She said as Punk nodded and smiled.
"Me too." He said, leaning over and pressing a kiss on her lips. It meant the absolute world, and they already loved their baby so much.
A/N: Let me know what you think!
