Add It Up

"Look what Jude just sent me." AJ said, turning her phone to Punk who she was sitting with, curled into him in a booth in a dimly lit bar downtown, "Another scan picture." She smiled.

"Hey, it looks just like her." Punk teased, looking at the black and white picture on the phone as AJ smiled, leaning into his torso as his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

"I still can't believe it." AJ shook her head with a smile.

The upside of all of their children being grown adults now, was getting a ton more time to themselves. They'd lost so much of their prime together. Basically the entirety of their thirties, that this was nice to have all the time in the world again. Even if it was just going for a morning walk at the docks, or spending a night in a cosy bar downtown. It was peaceful and so relaxing.

"Are they finding out what it's gonna be?" Punk asked her.

"I think so." AJ nodded, "Jude thinks it's a girl." She said.

"It's a guessing game right now." Punk said, rubbing his hand up and down her arm sweetly.

"I'm worried about Thea." AJ admitted. There was a peace in their life now, one which they hadn't seemed to have found until the past few years. Things finally felt settled. They were content and every day they got to wake up to each other they counted themselves the luckiest. But being worried parents, no matter what age their girls were, wasn't something that had left.

"Why?" Punk asked.

"Well they're moving away to a different state." AJ said, "They're not gonna know anyone. It's just the two of them and the kids."

"They'll meet people. New work friends. Neighbours. Parent friends." Punk said, "They're grown ass adults, Ape."

"I know they are. I'm not saying they're incapable but… I don't know, it always just made me feel better than I saw Thea all the time and that she was just five minutes away. It meant I knew she was doing ok and she… she wasn't drinking." AJ sighed.

"And you think she's gonna start drinking agin once they move?" Punk asked.

"No, look… I have faith in my daughter. And I know she's been clean for the longest time but… it just worries me that she's got no family around her anymore." AJ said.

"We'll still visit her every week." Punk reminded her, "And she's got Dominic. She's not alone."

"I know." AJ sighed, "Maybe I just don't wanna let her go." She frowned.

"I don't either but… she's doing the right thing. She can't be out of a job when they've got two kids and a house to run. She's not that far away." Punk said, "You can call her every night and check in." He said, "Or facetime… is that what it's called?" He asked as AJ chuckled.

"Yes, that's what it's called." AJ said as he nodded, "I'm gonna miss babysitting the kids. I hope they don't get too upset about moving. Do you remember when we moved from our apartment and Thea wanted to go back?" She smiled fondly.

"Yeah, she kept saying she wanted to go back to ten beef." Punk chuckled to himself as AJ nodded, "But… she got used to it, and so will James and Sofia. It's a new adventure for them." Punk smiled.

"Remember we thought about leaving this place? After Jude was born?" AJ asked him as Punk nodded.

"Yeah… sometimes I think we should have. We might not have lost those eight years." Punk said.

"Or Marina would have found us anyway." AJ said, "No point in saying what if." She said.

"Yeah, I know." Punk said, "Thea's gonna be fine." He nodded to assure his own self.

"Aren't you gonna miss her?" AJ looked up at him.

"Of course I am. Trust me, I'd rather she stayed. But…she's a grown ass woman. She has been for the longest time. She's got her own family, her own responsibilities. Part of me is excited for her. It's like a fresh start… not that she needs one but… it's something new and different."

"Yeah you can always see the bigger picture." AJ patted his chest, curled into him, "I'm just selfish and want my first baby to stay with me forever." She said as Punk chuckled.

"I do too, but… she's more than capable of branching out." Punk nodded.

"I know." AJ smiled, "I can't believe we're getting another grandbaby. Imagine how many we could have between the three of them." She said as Punk chuckled a little.

"Calm down." Punk suggested as she smiled.

"They could have three kids each and we'd have nine grandkids. Nine, Phil." AJ said with amazement as Punk chuckled to himself.

"That's pretty terrifying actually." Punk thought about it as AJ nodded in agreement, "You know what I just realised the other day."

"What?" AJ asked.

"The Brooks name is gonna die with me and you." Punk said as AJ thought about it.

"Oh, yeah." AJ realised, "Technically… I'm still just April Mendez."

"You seriously never got it changed?" Punk asked her.

"Oh, why bother now?" AJ scoffed as Punk rolled his eyes, "I never realised that either actually." She said as Punk nodded, "Would you have wanted a boy?" She asked him.

"No… No, I'm a girl dad." Punk nodded to himself, "Can't beat it." He said as AJ smiled, kissing his shoulder, "Plus, I got a grandson and he's the best." He said as AJ smiled.

"He really is." AJ agreed.

"If there's anyone I'm worried about right now it's Cassie." Punk admitted.

"Why?" AJ asked.

"I just hope they're not making things difficult in the station for her… because of me." Punk said, "She works hard and I hate that she feels like she's not being taken seriously." He said.

"Isn't it just cop mentality? The idea that you gotta thick skin and take heat from everyone?" AJ asked, "She won't be a rookie for much longer." AJ said, "I know she can handle herself."

"I know that too but… I don't want her to become disheartened. She works like crazy at it and I want her to feel like it's paying off." Punk said.

"It will." AJ said, "She's got determination. Kid doesn't quit at anything." She shook her head as Punk nodded, knowing that to be true, "This music is so nice." She smiled with relaxation, enjoying the atmosphere of the busy bar as she lounged into her husband. The safest place she could ever be.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Jude answered the door to her little sister.

"Hey, I just got off work." Cassie said, "I brought you some blue lemonade. Mom said you've been craving it."

"Oh, yeah. I have." Jude nodded.

"I also brought you some cake." Cassie nodded as Jude smiled.

"Are you trying to fatten me up?" Jude questioned, "Because apparently my face is on the way there."

"Please, you're a stick." Cassie scoffed, walking on into the house as Jude closed the door over, "Sean at work?"

"Yeah, he's home at nine." Jude nodded, following her through to the kitchen, "You didn't see him?"

"No, I was out all day." Cassie said as Jude nodded, "Mom and dad have gone out so I figured I'd come see how you're doing." She said.

"Well I'm better now that you've brought me cake." Jude smiled, "You want a slice?" She asked, already opening up the cake to cut herself a slice.

"No, I'm good." Cassie nodded, sitting down at the table, "How did the scan go?" She asked.

"Oh, good. Yeah, here it is." Jude reached over for her purse, finding the sonogram picture and handing it over to Cassie.

"Sweet." Cassie smiled, "Healthy?" She asked as Jude nodded.

"Mhm." Jude nodded, "Heard the heartbeat today. It's real strong." She said as Cassie smiled.

"That's good." Cassie smiled, "So when do you find out the sex?"

"In a few weeks. We booked that appointment today actually." Jude nodded, sitting down at the table with her lemonade and cake, "It's the same week that Thea moves."

"Bummer, huh?" Cassie nodded.

"Hey, she's gotta do what she's gotta do." Jude said, "She's not a country away. If I need to see her I can drive for an hour and a half and see her." She shrugged, "It's not the end of the world."

"I know but… it's still weird that she's not gonna be just five minutes away anymore." Cassie said.

"Yeah, I know." Jude said, "How is the job going?" She asked her little sister.

"It's hard." Cassie admitted, "Some days I don't even wanna go." She shook her head.

"Are people making it difficult for you?" Jude asked.

"No, it's fine." Cassie said modestly.

"Cass." Jude said.

"They just don't take me seriously. Even when I do everything right and I do everything the way I'm supposed to." Cassie said, "I mean I don't… I don't know how else to prove to them that I actually want this-"

"Hey, you don't have to prove anything to anyone. You're doing this for you, and because you're damn good at it. Don't let anyone step in the way of that." Jude made clear as Cassie smiled.

"I get so much access to so many files. The system they use in the station shows up everything. Even the littlest of things." Cassie said, "I typed mom and dad's name in the other day." She said as Jude chuckled a little.

"I bet that was fun." Jude chuckled.

"Not really." Cassie shook her head as Jude looked across at her, "I mean there was… so much. And some of their mug shots… it's like I can't even see them as my parents. It's just so strange." She said.

"Yeah, I bet." Jude understood. She figured it had to be hard working in a job which had ultimately took so much from them, which had broken their family apart, which had always been the 'enemy' in their parents eyes. She was inspired by her sister's attitude to do what she wanted, and be who she wanted.

"I came across something." Cassie said, being desperate to talk to someone about it.

"What?" Jude asked, putting majority of focus into her cake she was enjoying too much.

"Well when I was looking through mom and dad's files, obviously Brooks was logged into the search bar. I came across this guy… Daniel Brooks." Cassie said as Jude looked across at him.

"Who is that?" Jude shook her head.

"I don't know." Cassie said, "But he's been in prison for murder for thirty years."

"What age is he?" Jude asked.

"Sixty eight." Cassie looked across at her sister wearily as Jude raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, God." Jude cringed a little as Cassie nodded, both of them thinking the same thing.