Ask Me Anything

"This movie is so bad." Punk tilted his head, sitting watching TV in the living room, watching a low budget Christmas movie whilst AJ sat on the floor wrapping some last minute presents.

"Then why have you sat and watched all of it?" AJ replied calmly.

"Well I wanna see what happens." Punk shrugged as AJ shook her head, "I'll need to go pick Cassie up soon anyway." He said, looking over at the clock.

"I think she's sort of neglecting her soccer." AJ said as he turned to her, "She's not into it as she used to be." She shrugged, "I mean… she was meant to be at practise tonight but she blew it off to go out with her friends."

"Isn't she just growing out of it?" Punk shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess so." AJ nodded, "She's just done it for so long and… it's something she's always loved." She said.

"Doesn't mean she doesn't love it anymore." Punk said, "Maybe she just wants to try other things and spend more time with her friends. It's not a bad thing."

"Oh, I know. Whatever she wants to do, as long as she's happy." AJ said, "I just don't want her to regret it if she does leave the team. I mean, she's so good at it."

"Maybe she won't." Punk said, "Maybe she's just wanting a little break. She works hard at it." He said as AJ nodded.

"Yeah, I know." AJ said.

"Hey do you want a hand with that?" He asked her as she looked up at him.

"I'd uh… I'd rather you didn't." AJ smiled sweetly as Punk nodded, used to the rejection at this point, "I spoke to Thea this morning on the phone. She had physio this morning. Said she was in a lot of pain but she's doing ok now." She said as Punk nodded.

"I just hope she's not overdoing it." Punk said, "You know what she's like."

"I know but… she just doesn't want to be sitting around all the time. She's very hyperactive like you. Can't sit still for more than two seconds-"

"Me? Me who has been sitting here all day watching Christmas movies?" Punk asked her with confusion.

"When you were younger, I mean." AJ said, "You always had to be doing something, going somewhere." She said as Punk nodded.

"Places to be, people to see." Punk nodded, "At least her spirits have lifted now that she can do a little more. I think she was just bummed she was practically gonna miss James' first Christmas, and then with Dominic have a setback, I think she was just worried." He said.

"I spoke to Dominic when we were at the markets last week. He's doing better. Much better." AJ said, "Phil, I just think it got too much for him when Thea was in the hospital and he lost it for a second." She said as Punk nodded.

"Yeah well it was a difficult time." Punk agreed, "But… we're getting through it. And we'll have a good Christmas."

"Yes we will." AJ smiled, "Do you think Thea will like this?" She asked, holding up a sweater as Punk looked at it.

"I uh… I don't know, I don't take Thea for the sweater wearing type." Punk said.

"She was wearing a sweater yesterday when we saw her." AJ raised a brow.

"She was?" Punk questioned, "What do I know." He scoffed as AJ shook her head.

"You better get going, there might be traffic." AJ said as Punk nodded, getting off the couch and stretching.

"What do you want me to pick up for dinner?" Punk asked her.

"Oh, maybe Indian food?" AJ wondered.

"Sure." Punk nodded, "Well Cass doesn't like that so I'll probably have to take her somewhere else for something." He said, "Could be a while."

"That's ok, I'm not too hungry right now. I'll finish off the rest of this wrapping." AJ said as Punk nodded.

"Ok." Punk said, leaning down and giving her a kiss.

"Oh, Phil put on a jacket please." AJ rubbed his arm as Punk nodded. He didn't even bother when she mothered him, he was just used to it at this point.

"Ok, I'll see you soon." Punk said, grabbing his jacket and keys and leaving the house.

He headed to Cassie's friend's house to pick her up, which wasn't too far away, sitting outside the house and waiting for her to come out.

He watched her leave the house, running towards the car and getting in as he smiled.

"Hey." He smiled.

"Hi." Cassie nodded, putting her seatbelt on, "You're early."

"Yeah well I thought traffic would be bad but it's not." He nodded, "You have fun?" He asked, pulling away from the house.

"Yeah. Hannah's mom makes amazing Christmas cookies." Cassie nodded.

"Hey, mom said that you were supposed to be at soccer practise tonight but you bailed." Punk said as Cassie nodded, "What's up? You not enjoying it anymore?" He asked her.

"It's not that I don't enjoy it." Cassie said, "I still love it but… I'm supposed to practise five days a week and I'm missing out on things. I'm missing out on going out with my friends and having my own freedom." She said, "I don't know, it's just… it's not becoming my priority anymore."

"What is your priority then?" Punk asked her.

"I don't know. School, I guess. Just having fun without exhausting myself." She said.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that." Punk said, "You just do what makes you happy." He nodded to her as she smiled.

"I just feel like everyone has their shit together and I don't." Cassie said, "Jude and Thea know what they wanna do and… they have their own lives-"

"Babe, you're just sixteen." Punk reminded her, "Your sisters are a lot older than you. You've got so much time to figure things out." He said, "Don't worry about it." He said as Cassie nodded.

"I'm still trying to let it sink in that… Thea got shot." Cassie said as Punk nodded, keeping his eyes on the road.

He and AJ knew that Cassie was a little more sensitive to the subject of the past. It was all new news to her and he figured it was still hard for her to understand and accept.

"Yeah, but she's doing good." Punk said, "Some more physio and she'll be back to her normal self."

"Why didn't anyone ever tell me?" Cassie asked, "I mean… I'm not talking about detailed stuff but the basics? No one even told me you were in prison for eight years."

"I think your mom just wanted to protect you from it. And I guess I couldn't really bring myself to tell you." He admitted, "Selfishly I like the fact that you just saw me as your dad and not the guy who was in prison for eight years."

"That's how you think Jude and Thea see you?" Cassie asked.

"No, not like that… it just… it's defined a lot of my life since I got out and you not knowing was… it was almost like an escape for me because I didn't have to be worried about what you were thinking-"

"I'd never think any different of you." Cassie made clear, "You're my dad." She said, "And I know Thea and Jude feel the same way. I guess I just feel kind of alienated with it all. Thea and Jude are so… used to all that information."

"Hey if there's anything you wanna ask me specifically about anything, just ask. I'm not pretending it never happened, I don't shy away from it." He said, "I'll answer anything."

"What's prison food like?" Cassie wondered as Punk raised a brow.

"Uh… that's what you wanna know?" Punk asked.

"Yeah. Is it lumpy?" Cassie wondered as Punk laughed a little.

"It's… it wasn't too bad." Punk shrugged as Cassie nodded.

"What was your cell like?" Cassie asked as Punk looked ahead at the road. He wasn't expecting her to ask these types of questions, but it didn't bother him at all.

"It was just a bunk bed and a urinal. Little desk at the side if we wrote any letters." Punk said, "I had a cell mate. He was nice, made sure nothing happened to me." Punk nodded.

"Was there any riots?" Cassie asked curiously.

"A few." Punk nodded, "You know these are not the type of questions I thought you'd have." He chuckled a little.

"I guess it's just hard to believe that you spent eight years away from… normal life." Cassie said, "I can't really imagine it."

"Yeah, it was… it was tough." Punk nodded, "But hey, I got through it and it's in the past. Way in the past." He said as Cassie nodded.

"It must have been really horrible." Cassie said as Punk nodded, "You must have missed a lot with me when I was young."

"Yeah well… first eight years of your life." Punk nodded.

"You weren't even there when I was born?" Cassie asked.

"No, I was arrested when your mom was pregnant with you." Punk said, "In our kitchen, in front of everyone." Punk nodded to himself. He still got flashbacks to that exact moment every now and then.

"In front of Thea and Jude?" Cassie asked.

"Yeah. I mean… Jude doesn't remember it but Thea does." Punk nodded.

"Must have been horrible." Cassie said, "Don't take this the wrong way but I'm glad that I sort of… wasn't around to see it or realise what was going on." She said as Punk nodded.

"I'm sort of glad too. Too many people were hurting as it is." He said, "I just… I wish it could have been different for all of you. Wish I didn't have to miss so much."

"If it makes any difference, I don't feel like I've ever been without you. I feel like you've been here the entire time." She nodded positively as Punk smiled.

"Good, I'm glad." He smiled.

"And we've had so much fun together as a family these past few years." She pointed out, "You shouldn't feel bad about what you missed. Just… think about the things you didn't miss." She said as Punk nodded.

"I do, and believe me, I'm really grateful." Punk said as Cassie smiled, "Hey, I'm gonna stop and pick some food up for me and mom, you want me to take you for something somewhere?"

"Oh, yeah. You could go to McDonald's for me." Cassie smiled sweetly.

"Ah, yes, the factory of grease." Punk nodded.

"Coming from the guy who eats two cupcakes a day." Cassie scoffed.

"Hey you have your habits, I have mine." Punk said as Cassie chuckled whilst Punk pulled up into the car park, "You coming in? I know you hate Indian food but I could use some company."

"Sure." Cassie nodded, getting out of the car as Punk did so too, locking it over and walking around to join her.

He wrapped his arm around her, kissing her head as Cassie smiled, "You know prison food, kinda like when Sam cooks." He let her know as Cassie chuckled.

"I don't think I've saw that woman cook in my life." Cassie said.

"Yeah well you're lucky." Punk nodded as she smiled, walking off into the take-out shop.