Reminder

"The girls are in bed so they shouldn't give you any trouble." Jude nodded, walking into the living room where the nanny they'd hired was standing, "They're good sleepers but if there's anything, literally anything, just call." She said, "Local emergency numbers are on the fridge too."

"Ok, no problem." The nanny nodded.

"Ready?" Sean came out from the kitchen, "Damn, I did good." He nodded to himself, looking over at Jude who was in a beautiful dress with her hair and make-up done.

"I think so." Jude nodded. She was nervous about leaving the girls with the nanny. They didn't do it often but she knew they couldn't live their lives with their children joint to their hips. Some nights they just wanted to be alone, and they didn't feel bad for saying that.

"Ok, let's go." Sean said.

"Seriously call if you need anything." Jude nodded to the nanny, Trisha.

"I will." Trisha smiled, "Enjoy your night."

"Ok." Jude nodded to herself, "Ok." She smiled, putting her jacket on and heading out the door with Sean.

"They'll be fine." Sean assured her, "Just relax."

"I know." Jude said, closing the door behind them and walking down the street. They were going to a local restaurant for dinner since it was Sean's birthday. They'd spent the full day with the girls who helped Jude make pancakes for him, but he selfishly wanted a night with his wife on her own.

"I like the dress." He smiled, taking her hand.

"Yeah?" Jude asked.

"Yeah, you look gorgeous. As always." He nodded, kissing her cheek as Jude smiled.

"Wait until you see my outfit for later." She smirked to herself as he laughed a little.

"We can just go back, you know." He teased as she smiled, "I'm glad we're doing this."

"Me too." Jude nodded, "I know it seems stupid… getting worked up about leaving the girls with clearly someone who is trustworthy-"

"It's not stupid. I get some nerves about it too." He assured her, "Considering they're the most important things in our lives, you're bound to feel like that from time to time." He nodded, "But they'll be fine." He assured her as she smiled.

"Of course they will be." Jude nodded to herself, "It feels so weird going out without them, though. Don't you think?" She asked him.

"Yeah, it always feels like we're just dating again." Sean said.

"I always remember our first date." She nodded to him, walking down the street, "You danced with me." She smiled as he nodded.

"Could you tell I was really trying to impress you?" He asked her.

"I just thought, if I don't marry this guy then… what a loss." She nodded.

"You wanna know what I was thinking the entire time?" He asked her.

"What?" She said.

"I'm on a date with thee most beautiful girl in the world. How'd that happen?" He shook his head as she smiled.

"You're too sweet to me." Jude smiled, linking her arm through his and leaning into him as he kissed her head, "I'm so glad Thea's home now and she's doing good. I think she really got useful help this time."

"She looked good when we saw her. Put on some necessary weight. It's the best I've seen her look in a long time." Sean said as Jude nodded.

"Yeah, me too. And she's only going back to work part-time for now so I think that will be really good for her to ease into things again." Jude nodded.

"Can she afford to go part-time?" Sean asked, "I know that's none of my business but-"

"She can afford it." Jude nodded, "She's good at saving her money actually, despite how chaotic she can be. Plus Dominic has his own business with his brother. And he has a huge inheritance."

"He does?" Sean asked.

"Oh, yeah. His parents died when he was younger and it all got left to him and his brother." Jude said as Sean nodded, "When we were in Chicago I was talking to Thea about mom and this situation with Joey, that guy I was telling you about."

"Step-dad?" Sean nodded.

"Ok, we gotta stop joking about that. My dad will flip if he hears." Jude shook her head.

"Come on, your dad's got a good sense of humour." Sean said.

"Not about stuff like that." Jude scoffed, "But Thea was telling me that mom was saying she was uncomfortable with things. Uncomfortable with him being around." She said, "I really hope she's ok, you know."

"Well the guy has every right to do a job there just like everyone else. As long as he stays away from her and… doesn't cross any line then it should be ok."

"That's the thing, I don't think he stays away from her going by what Thea was saying." Jude said, "I know my mom is tough. Probably the toughest out of all of us. Literally got a heart of steel but… I know she struggles speaking up sometimes."

"I don't think this is anything you need to worry about, babe. If your mom ever feels like she's in… danger, she'd tell your dad." Sean nodded.

"Sometimes she doesn't, though. Cause she knows he'll flip out and she'd rather not see that." Jude said, "I know her. I know the type of person she is. She likes to handle shit on her own and that's fine but… I've just been thinking about it, that's all."

"Yeah and that's your biggest enemy, Jude. Thinking." Sean nodded to her. She was a notorious overthinker. She would find things to overthink about if she didn't have any already. She'd always been that way since a child. She couldn't help it.

"Trust me, I know." Jude said, "I promise for the rest of the night I will not think." She teased as he chuckled.

"Not possible." Sean said as she chuckled.

"Fuck." Punk panted a little, rolling off of AJ onto the mattress beside, running his hand through his hair as AJ smiled to herself, pulling the sheets to her naked body.

"I know." AJ smiled happily, "We don't get older, we just get better." She nodded as he chuckled.

"Well…" He debated as she chuckled, curling into him and draping her leg over his.

"Did you put in for that vacation next month?" She asked him.

"Shit, I forgot." Punk remembered, "Remind me in the morning and I'll talk to the boss first thing." He said as she nodded.

"We're well overdue a vacation." AJ thought to herself, planning a vacation getaway next month, out of town, away from noise for a week where they could relax.

"Well with all the crazy hours you're working, you deserve it." Punk said, "I was thinking maybe tomorrow we could go out for food." He said, "Or I'll cook for you." He suggested.

"That sounds so good but I got dinner at my boss' house tomorrow." She reminded him.

"Oh, that's tomorrow?" Punk raised his eyebrows, "I forgot about that."

"Yeah, so did I." AJ scoffed, "I plan on going there and spending the minimum amount of time there that I have to." She nodded.

"Is it just you and your boss?" Punk asked her.

"No, there's a few people going." AJ nodded.

"Joey?" Punk raised a brow.

"Yeah, he's going." AJ said, "It's a business dinner, Phil."

"I didn't say anything." Punk defended.

"Yeah well I know you don't like it." AJ shook her head, sitting up and sitting at the edge of the bed as Punk watched her.

"Hey, it's… it's not like that." Punk said, "I'm sorry, it's just… gonna take a little while to sink in, I guess."

"What do you mean?" AJ looked back at him.

"Well for so long I… I didn't even believe that you were with someone else. I didn't want. And it easy to not think about it and pretend it wasn't true but… now I hear you mention him and knowing he's back working in your company… it's like it's actually sinking in for me now that you did spend time with this guy. Close time." He said, "I mean he was… in here with you-"

"Yes, ok. We both understand what went on." AJ rolled her eyes, "We don't need to recap."

"I'm not. It's just… it's not something me and you have dealt with before. We've only ever been with each other-"

"You mean I had only ever been with you." She looked at him over her shoulder, "Your first time wasn't with me." She scoffed.

"No, maybe not but it felt like it." He nodded.

"And Marina?" She asked.

"You know sometimes I still feel like you haven't forgave me for that. Even after all this time." He said.

"I have forgave you." AJ said, "I'm just making a point." She shook her head, "I can't not do my job just because he's there."

"I'm not asking you to not do your job. I'm not asking you to do anything." Punk said, sitting up against the headboard, "I'm just telling you how I feel. It kills me to think that this guy was here, in our house we bought together, taking you out on dates-"

"You paint it like it was some fairytale." AJ shook her head, "The entire time I was just thinking how easier it'd be if you were just here. If it was you I was sitting across from at dinner. If it was you who was there to give me a hug after a stressful day." She said, "I don't know, I think I just couldn't stand the loneliness anymore."

"Why didn't you just come see me?" Punk asked, "I know we had a fight and stuff but… I was still there."

"It was harder. It'd be like… having a toy and being told you can't play with it. You can only sit and stare at it." She shook her head as he smiled a little.

"So… I'm a toy?" He smiled a little as she rolled her eyes.

"You know what I mean." AJ sighed, "I'm sure you felt the same every time Jude came to see you. Having to spend just a little time with her and then watch her walk out the door. It was torture."

"I know." Punk understood.

"Seeing him just makes me think back to that time." AJ admitted as he looked at her, "It was like I was living the same day over and over again. Everything else around me was changing. The kids were growing. I was just stuck in the same place." She shook her head, "I may as well have been in prison too."

"No." Punk shook his head, "Prison is nothing anyone may as well do. It's like… nothing else in the world." He assured her, "It sucked but you had a life. You had the kids. Freedom. Believe me, everything changes once someone takes your freedom from you." He nodded.

"I just wish he'd go away." AJ shook her head as Punk looked at her, "Just get a job somewhere else."

"How often do you see him in the day?" Punk wondered.

"A couple times. In the copy room or the break room." AJ said, "I'm probably blowing it out of proportion, I know. But it just… brings a lot of memories back."

"Maybe you could speak to your boss?" Punk asked, "Tell him about the situation."

"No, I can't do that. Joey's not doing anything wrong." AJ said, "He's a kind man." She assured him as Punk looked at her.

"Not according to Thea." Punk said as AJ looked up.

"What?" AJ looked at him.

"She said towards the end he… had a few choice words for you." Punk said, "Shallow and empty." He said as AJ rolled her eyes.

"When'd she tell you that?" AJ asked.

"A day I visited her after work." Punk said, "She… had a lot to say, actually."

"Oh, yeah? Like what?" AJ shook her head.

"Like he was controlling and manipulative." Punk said, "She said that you… lost your voice with him."

"Because I didn't care." AJ looked at him, "I didn't have the energy to care. My heart was never in it. She knows that." AJ shook her head, putting on her shorts and t-shirt, "I need a drink." She said, flicking her long hair out of her t-shirt, standing up and leaving the bedroom as Punk sighed to himself.

"Where is mom?" Thea asked, walking into the living room where Jude was sitting watching TV with Cassie.

"Kitchen." Jude said, leaning her elbow on the arm of the chair in a fed up posture as Thea looked at her.

"What's up?" Thea laughed a little.

"Joey's here." Jude said as Thea nodded.

"You're blocking the tv." Cassie kicked her sister a little as Thea pushed her over playfully.

"Respect your elders." Thea pointed to Cassie who grinned, "Why do you look so mad?" She asked Jude.

"I was working on a project in the kitchen and now I have to come in here." Jude said as Thea looked across at her.

Thea nodded slowly, walking out of the living room and into the kitchen, pausing for a second where she saw her mother kissing Joey. It was an odd sight. Nothing about it felt right. She knew she had her own issues with her father, but she also knew what her parents had together.

"Hey." Thea said loudly, making her presence known as AJ pulled back from Joey.

"Oh, hey." AJ smiled, "You had some dinner?"

"I was out with Jackson for dinner." Thea nodded, looking on at Jude's art things sitting on the table, "Jude was painting in here." She said, looking over at Joey.

"I know but it's getting late." Joey nodded.

"I'm talking to my mom." Thea looked at him.

"Me and Joey were just talking." AJ shook her head.

"Then talk elsewhere." Thea said, "This is her house. Next time you kick her out of here I'm gonna smash all the windows in that fancy new care you just got." She nodded to Joey who raised his brows, turning to AJ and smiling a little.

"Thea." AJ said angrily.

"I'll get going." Joey nodded, grabbing his jacket and walking by Thea who glared at him.

"Jude! Kitchen is free." Thea called as AJ looked at Thea angrily.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I'm sick of this." AJ shook her head.

"Yeah so am I." Thea nodded.

"This has nothing to do with you." AJ said, "You… God, you are hard work sometimes, you know that? Seriously." AJ nodded as Thea smiled a little.

"So are you." Thea nodded, "It's hard work seeing you pretend to like this guy when really you're just using him. And you might have wanted to pick better because he is seriously dull and rude. He talks to Jude like she's five."

"No he doesn't. He's just not around kids all the time." AJ shook her head, "And I am not using him. You know nothing about this. For once you should just mind your business." She said.

"I would but it's hard when he's always here." Thea said as Jude walked into the kitchen, sitting back down at the table to finish her art as AJ watched her.

"I'm not talking about this with you anymore. I'm the mom here. I don't need you to tell me anything." AJ made clear as Thea just rolled her eyes, leaving the kitchen as AJ made an audible groan, "She really tests me sometimes, you know." She turned to Jude who looked at her.

"Well she's right." Jude mumbled.

"What?" AJ looked at her.

"Nothing." Jude said, concentrating on her art as AJ watched her, listening as there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" Cassie yelled as AJ rubbed her head tiredly.

Cassie ran to the door, reaching up and opening it up.

"Hi, puddin." Sam smiled.

"Mommy! It's the lady you don't like!" Cassie yelled as Sam nodded to herself.

AJ left the kitchen, walking down the hall and noticing Sam coming into the house.

"What can I help you with exactly?" AJ asked as Sam looked across at her.

"What? I can't come and have a chat with my daughter-in-law?" Sam asked as AJ folded her arms, "Put the kettle on." She nodded, shoving her purse into AJ's chest as AJ took it and rolled her eyes.