Progression
"Mommy!" Sofia squealed, running into her house and jumping on her mother who was sat at the couch.
"Oh, hi puddin." Thea chuckled, squeezing her tightly, "Did you have fun?" She smiled.
"Yeah!" Sofia yelled as James looked over from the other couch, unimpressed with how loud his sister was being, "Mommy, I went to the park and papa pushed me on the swings." She explained excitedly as Thea smiled, looking up at Punk who nodded as witness.
"Not too high, though. Right?" Thea looked up at Punk suspiciously.
"Just average." Punk shrugged, winking to Sofia discreetly as the three year old giggled mischievously, "She took good care of A last night too. Didn't you?" Punk smiled, "You made sure she was resting good, right?"
"I did." Sofia confirmed, "I made sure she wasn't too hot like this." She said, placing her hand on her mother's forehead to show her.
"Wow, baby. You were really taking care of her, huh?" Thea smiled as Sofia nodded, "Good job." She nodded as Sofia smiled, pleased with herself, "You're home just in time because daddy is almost finishing dinner so… why don't you both go wash your hands." She suggested, lifting Sofia back onto the ground.
"Ok." Sofia nodded, running away out of the kitchen to go wash her hands.
"Hey, buddy." Punk chuckled, looking over at James who was sitting quietly. He was very different from Sofia. He was quiet, but still somehow had some of Thea's famous blunt charm. He was a lot more like Dominic in certain ways.
"Hey." James smiled as Thea looked over.
"Babe, you excited for the game tonight?" Thea smiled, watching James slide off the couch. She lived for her son's naturally calm aura.
"Yeah." James nodded as Punk smiled.
"Who's gonna win?" Thea asked.
"Hawks." James nodded confidently as Punk smiled.
"Hell yeah they are." Punk agreed as James smiled, leaving the living room to go wash his hands with his sister as Thea stood up from the couch.
"Just teaching them early." She insisted.
"It's what I like to see." Punk nodded, "I've left her bag at the bottom of the stairs." He told her as Thea nodded.
"Thanks for having her. I hope it wasn't too much for mom." Thea said.
"You kidding? Nothing is too much for your mom." Punk said.
"I'm serious. I'm worried about how much she's been doing since she got out of hospital. It's ridiculous how stubborn she is." Thea shook her head.
"You're just as stubborn as her." Punk reminded her as Thea scoffed, "Heard you had a good day out with your sisters."
"Yeah, it was really good." Thea smiled, "Good to see Jude out of the house and… enjoying herself. I think it was a big step for her. I'm glad she came." She nodded.
"Me too." Punk nodded, "Heard about the dress incident."
"It was hilarious." Thea laughed a little as Punk smiled, "Mom told me you talked to your dad." She said as Punk nodded.
"Yeah, me and Dean spoke to him." Punk said.
"Not going anywhere, huh?" Thea nodded.
"No, it's… it's too late. It doesn't even feel right." Punk shook his head, "But hey I have no issue with you or your sisters getting to know him. Just like Sam, I won't interfere." He made clear.
"Speaking of Sam… you heard her from her?" Thea asked.
"No. And I don't plan to. Me and her are done. And your mom is done with her too." Punk nodded.
"She doesn't do herself any favours." Thea shook her head.
"She's poison. She always has been." Punk said, "And it's always poor her. Anything to make herself feel better." He shook his head.
"It's all a bit mad, though. Isn't it?" Thea asked, "Mom's parents chasing yours for money. Mom's dad losing his mind."
"I think a lot of that is just circumstantial. Especially your mom's dad. You live in that world for all that time and sure… you're gonna lose your mind. I lost my mind and I was only doing it for a year or two. Almost lost your mother and you. I was so blind by it all." Punk said, "It can fuck you up." He said as Thea nodded.
"Aren't you worried about mom's mom? Cassie said she's been calling the station with threats every day." Thea said, "And you're the guy who shot her husband." She said.
"I think I'll be fine." Punk nodded, "All of this shit isn't for you or your sisters to worry about anyway." He made clear, "You got your own lives, focus on that… not on me and your mom." He said.
"I'm trying. It's nice getting back to some kind of normality." Thea nodded, "And we're finally almost unpacked." She said.
"It's a nice place." Punk nodded, "Feel like a home yet?"
"Yeah, it's starting too." Thea said, "I guess the more we unpack." She nodded.
"The kids liking it?" Punk asked as Thea nodded.
"Yeah, I can't get Sofia out of the garden." Thea laughed a little as Punk smiled, "Next week I'm actually taking James to his first hockey game." She explained.
"Oh, sweet." Punk smiled.
"I have a spare ticket." She nodded, "Dominic can't make it and I asked James who he'd wanna ask to come and… you made first cut." She smiled.
"I did?" Punk smiled proudly as Thea nodded, "I'd love to come." Punk nodded, "But you're buying the snacks." He said as she nodded to herself.
"Ok, fine." Thea smiled as he chuckled.
"I'll let you sort their dinner. I told your mom I'd pick up some food on my way home. She'll be buzzing my ass if I don't hurry up." Punk said as Thea nodded.
"I'll see you later." Thea shook her head, wandering off to the kitchen where the rest of her family was as Punk left the living room, pausing in the hallway as he looked down to the kitchen where he could see Thea helping the kids sit up at the table, passing Dominic back and forth as they got ready to have dinner. He was proud of his daughter and the wonderful family she had.
"I'm nervous about this. What if she slips out of my hands?" Jude asked, holding Mirren against her chest, standing in the bathroom as Sean leaned over the bath where some shallow water had been ran into the small baby bath, checking to make sure it wasn't too hot nor too cold.
"Jude, she's a baby. She's not gonna jump out your hands." Sean laughed a little, turning to her and noticing she looked legitimately scared. It was her first time bathing Jude since they'd gotten home. He'd pretty much done it on his own for the past few weeks due to Jude's emotional disconnect from everything. Gradually as she began to feel better, she was beginning to do more with Mirren and that was wonderful to see.
"She's gonna be fine. She just sort of… sits there. Just keep your arm under her neck and she'll be fine." Sean nodded.
"So she doesn't cry or anything?" Jude made sure.
"No, she doesn't say much." Sean teased as Jude smiled a little, "Go on, put her in." He nodded.
"Ok." Jude said nervously, leaning over the edge of the bath tub, placing Mirren into the baby bath, making sure she supported her small neck, smiling a little as she saw the baby girl lying still, "Is this ok?" She asked.
"You don't have to ask me." Sean assured her. He knew she was still slightly struggling to find her confidence with Mirren and her ability to know she was capable of being everything she needed. Little steps went a long way, and he was getting to watch her slowly become closer and closer with Mirren.
"She's just sort of chilling there, huh?" Jude laughed a little, using the cloth to wash Mirren carefully as the baby girl lay still.
"Yeah, she's an angel." Sean smiled, looking on as he watched Jude give Mirren her bath. She was more than capable of these things. As soon as she broke that nervous barrier, it was all natural.
Jude finished up giving Mirren her bath, lifting her out and taking her into their bedroom to dry her off carefully and get her into a diaper and onesie. Sean stood back and just watched it all. After seeing the way Jude had been the past few weeks, to now watching her more comfortable and more herself again, it was a blessing and he was so happy for her.
"She's just the best baby ever." Jude shook her head, popping the buttons on the onesie before lifting Mirren up and holding her against her chest.
"I have to agree." Sean nodded as Jude smiled.
"Was that ok? Is that how you do it?" Jude asked him as Sean smiled.
"You don't have to ask me. You got this. As soon as you got her in there you knew exactly what to do and how to do it." Sean nodded, "Don't sell yourself short." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as Jude smiled.
"I feel like I'm actually getting to know her now." Jude admitted, "Seeing her smile, feeding her more, bathing her… I hate that I missed it all at the beginning."
"Hey, it's still the beginning." Sean assured her, "And you're doing amazing. She is… so lucky to have you." He nodded as Jude smiled, looking on at Mirren sleeping against her chest. Holding her made her feel so fulfilled and warm. Something she could never lose.
"Why don't we… go out tomorrow?" Jude asked, "Put her in the stroller and… go for a walk or something?" She nodded as Sean looked across at her, nodding with a smile.
"That sounds nice." Sean nodded, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her head as Jude smiled softly. Therapy was really opening her eyes up to what she could overcome, what she had already overcome.
A/N: A little cool down before more drama! Stay tuned and thanks for the reviews.
