Fast Forward

6 years later…

"Hey, what are you doing up so late?" AJ asked, walking down the stairs and heading into the kitchen where her husband of two years was sitting at the kitchen table. He had a computer out in front of him and some paper work.

"I'm just going over some stuff for my appraisal tomorrow." Punk said, "I'm scared I miss something out." He admitted.

"Babe, you'll be fine." AJ smiled, leaning down behind him and kissing his cheek, "You've worked so hard for this." She rubbed his shoulders sweetly.

"I know I just… I don't wanna say or do anything that screws it all up." He shook his head, "What are you doing up anyway?" He asked her.

"Came down to make some tea. Do you want some?" She asked him.

"No, I'm ok." Punk nodded, "Can't sleep?" He asked her.

"Not really, no." AJ shook her head, "Especially not when you're down here. I get lonely." She frowned as he smiled.

"I'm sorry." He said, "I don't even think I could sleep if I tried." He said as she nodded, sitting down at the table across from him.

"If you're nervous it means you care a lot." AJ nodded, "And you've had an amazing career. There's no reason that you won't make captain." She said, "You're incredible."

"Well I know you think that." He said as she smiled sweetly, "But there's a full panel reviewing me and assessing me. What if they look at all the cases that I… I couldn't solve?" Punk worried to himself.

"And why would they do that? Not every case can be solved." AJ reminded him, "I think they'll concentrate more on all the badass ones you did solve, and all the amazing work you've done throughout the years." She said, "You got this. I know you do." She nodded as he smiled. He didn't know where he'd be without her support and encouragement through all these years. It was pivotal to how he'd improved as a person. She made him a better person.

"It's a sweet pay rise too. Would help us out a ton with the mortgage." Punk nodded.

"I'd say we're doing ok." AJ smiled.

They had comfortably bought their first house just over a year ago. It was a beautiful three bedroom house in the suburbs with a driveway, a back garden, friendly neighbours on either side of them. They tended to joke about how picture perfect it was, but it really was a beautiful place to stay.

AJ had successfully graduated and was working full-time in a hospital as a chemist, and had been for four years. She loved her job and was grateful that the four years of studying had paid off. They both made a comfortable living together in their respective careers.

Their wedding, although was very small, was beautiful and everything they had hoped for. AJ was slightly sceptical about it as they were planning it. She had her doubts and worries that it wasn't as exciting for him as it was for her, because he had already planned a wedding before, but it was just as special to him as it was her and she eventually realised that.

"You want me to make you something to eat?" Punk asked her, standing up from the kitchen table, stretching his arms up and yawning.

"It's 2am." AJ laughed a little.

"You said the baby likes to eat during the night." Punk said.

"Yeah, not so much anymore." AJ said, placing her hand on her six month pregnant belly.

"Just some tea then?" Punk asked her as she smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, just the tea." AJ said, "I feel really bloated." She admitted, "This pregnant thing is not treating me very kind." AJ sighed to herself as Punk frowned.

Since finding out they were having a baby, she had been back and forth with hospital appointments with different complications and problems. Their baby was healthy and happy most certainly, but her pregnancy had just been a little more difficult and demanding than she expected it to be.

"Well you're more than half way there." Punk said, "If I could do this part, I would."

"Oh, you couldn't handle this." AJ waved her hand as Punk chuckled, "It's better I take care of it." She nodded, rubbing her bump as Punk smiled.

Although both were taken back by the news as they weren't particularly trying to have a baby, they were both over the moon once the shock subsided, and it just felt right with everything going on in their lives. It had already been such an amazing journey, and they hadn't even met their baby yet.

"Here you go." Punk said, making her some tea, sitting the mug over on the table.

"Thank you." AJ smiled as he sat back down, "So when will you know about the job?" She asked him.

"By the end of tomorrow." Punk nodded.

"Oh, really? That quick?" AJ asked him as he nodded.

She liked the fact that no one else knew her the way he did. He was her everything. She'd gotten to grow with him as a person. Learn with him. Fail with him. It had been the most amazing six years with her soulmate, and every new step they took together, no matter how small or big, was always magical.

"Yeah, that quick." Punk said, "So I'll know by the time I'm home tomorrow." He said.

"Well I'm making you a celebration dinner regardless." AJ said, "Because I'm proud of you for even being considered for captain. It's a huge thing." She said, "And I don't doubt you'll get there, even if it's not tomorrow… some day you will." She smiled.

"Well good job that your opinion is the only one that matters to me." He smiled, sitting down at the table, leaning over and kissing her sweetly as she jumped a little.

"It's kicking again." AJ smiled, grabbing his hand and placing it on her stomach.

"Oh, yeah." Punk chuckled at the incredible feeling.

"I still can't get used to the feeling." She shook her head with amazement.

She understood the special bond which a child gave a couple. She never thought she'd ever feel closer to her husband than she already was, but carrying his child, preparing to welcome their first baby son or daughter into the world was a whole other ball again.

Punk watched his wife as she looked down at her tummy, smiling upon the smile on her face. He cherished the life he shared with her so much. After the dramatic beginning of their relationship, things had only gone uphill for them. He knew he'd found the one. She brought out the best in him. She was always his best friend first and that meant the most to him.

"I can't believe you've only got three months left." He shook his head, watching her caressing her bump. He could already see how amazing she was going to be as a mother. He knew she had her doubts but he could just tell by the way she talked about their baby, the way she carried herself, how much love she had for their little one.

"I know." AJ shook her head, "It's crazy." She nodded.

"Nervous?" He smiled as she nodded.

"Of course I am." AJ said, "I just assume I'm always going to be nervous, even when she's born."

"Ok, you gotta stop saying she." Punk said, "It could be a little guy in there."

"Look how puffy my face is. And my weird nose." AJ said, "It's a girl."

"There's nothing different about your nose." Punk scoffed.

"There is." AJ insisted, "The crib is getting delivered tomorrow morning so I'll make a start on building it-"

"April." Punk said, "I'll build it. You're too big to be crouched down building furniture." Punk shook his head.

If there was one thing she had learned, he had become even more protective of her if that was possible, since finding out she was pregnant. He barely let her carry her purse.

"It won't hurt to unbox it all at least." AJ said stubbornly.

"No, just you tell the delivery guy to sit it at the bottom of the stairs and then I'll build it when I get home." Punk said, "Ok?" He looked across at her as she smiled cheekily at him.

"Ok, fine." She smiled, "I keep ordering stuffed animals for the nursery whilst I'm on my lunch break at work." She shook her head, "I have two lions, three teddy bears, a monkey and some puppies coming tomorrow too. Kid is gonna hate animals… and me." She shook her head, drinking her tea.

"Stop." Punk said, "I think it's cute and I'm sure the baby will love it." He nodded as she smiled.

It didn't take him long to figure out that this was an actual marriage. Nothing compared to what he'd had previously with his ex-wife, whom he hadn't seen since the day she had stabbed him. This was real. It was support, love, fun, happiness and dreams. He just felt so lucky every day that AJ had come into his life at the right time, when he needed her the most.

"Do you feel prepared for this?" AJ asked him, picking up one of the flashcards sitting on the table.

"Not really." Punk shook his head, "I mean I know what they're gonna ask me and I know how the interview is gonna go but I just… I feel like it'd be a major step down if I didn't get this promotion." He said.

"Well all you can do is prepare and try your best." AJ nodded, "And don't put too much pressure on yourself." She shook her head, rubbing his arm softly, "You'll do great, baby. I know you will." She smiled.

"I should probably try and get a few hours sleep at least." Punk said.

"I think that's a good idea." AJ smiled, "I'm just gonna finish this and then I'll be up."

"Ok." Punk nodded, closing the computer down and bundling his paper work to the side, "Ok, I'll go on up." He said, leaning over and giving her a sweet kiss, leaning his head down and kissing her tummy as AJ smiled, cupping the back of his head as she felt him press his ear against her bump.

"What are you doing?" AJ laughed.

"Listening to see if it's saying anything." Punk said as AJ scoffed, nudging his head teasingly at his goofiness, "What? I am. Uh… what are you saying?" He spoke to her tummy, "Uh huh. I see." He participated in a fake conversation as AJ smiled.

"What is it saying?" AJ asked.

"That it has the best mom ever." Punk looked up at her as she smiled sweetly, "Seriously." He nodded as she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips sweetly.

"Go get some sleep." AJ smiled to him as he nodded.

"Ok." He said, getting up from the table, yawning his way out of the kitchen and heading upstairs to bed as AJ smiled.

She sat and finished her tea and eventually headed upstairs to join him in bed, in their home they cherished so much with one another.

A/N: Where is Janine? What happened after Punk got stabbed? All will be answered soon.