4 Months Later
4 Months Later…
"So what made you guys decide to retire all at the same time?" Jude asked, standing in her parents kitchen with her father whilst the rest of their family was scattered among the house.
"Well we've lived by the saying, if you do it I'll do it, all our lives." Punk shrugged as Jude smiled.
"Well I think it's great." Jude nodded, "You guys deserve to enjoy more time together. You put in the hard work."
"Yeah it's just a weird feeling. Waking up and knowing you don't gotta be anywhere." Punk said.
"Isn't it nice?" She asked.
"We're getting used to it." Punk nodded, "How's the mural coming along? Almost finished?"
"Almost." Jude said, "It's a nightmare keeping the sheet over it and working behind it, but I really don't want anyone to see it until it's completely finished." She said, "Dad, what if I get famous from this?" She turned to him seriously as Punk looked at her.
"Don't forget us." Punk teased as she smiled, "You haven't showed anyone? Not even Sean?"
"No. No one is seeing it until it's complete." Jude nodded.
"How have things been with you two?" He asked her.
"Good." Jude nodded, "Really good."
"Yeah?" Punk asked.
"I mean there's still lots we're getting through but we're trying hard." Jude nodded, "He's really trying hard. Moving here was a good thing for us. And it's been great seeing the girls get closer to their cousins too. They love their new school. And Sean is really doing great as chief." She said.
"Things are coming up Jude." Punk nodded, "Love to hear it."
"Look who has woken up." Cassie smiled happily, walking into the kitchen with four-month-old Lena in her arms, dressed in a little lemon dress with a matching hairband.
"Lucky number seven." Punk smiled happily, taking Lena from Cassie, "Hi, sweetie. Did you enjoy your nap?"
"She did." Cassie nodded, "Cause she's full of smiles now. Aren't you?" She smiled, looking on at Lena who smiled a little, digging her little hands into Punk's shoulder whilst looking around the kitchen nosily and leaving some drool on his shoulder.
"The dress is adorable." Jude said, "And is there anything better than babies' bare feet?" She smiled, tickling under Lena's bare toes.
"Well anytime I put socks on her she manages to get them off. I have no idea how." Cassie chuckled.
Meanwhile out in the yard, Thea and Dominic were standing with Sofia whilst Mirren, Leela and Chase stood in front.
"He makes you see?" Leela asked, trying to wrap her five year old brain around it as she stared at the golden retriever standing next to Sofia.
"No." Sofia said, "I still can't see." She said.
"Oh." Leela said, turning to Mirren with sadness.
"But he helps me walk around. And makes sure I don't trip or bump into anything." Sofia explained.
"How can he do that?" Chase asked, "Can I touch him?" He asked.
"Yeah but carefully." Sofia warned, holding onto the leash as Chase patted the dog carefully.
"He's specially trained." Thea explained, "So he knows exactly how to help Sofia, and it means she can do everything you guys can do, even though she can't see. Chance helps her around."
"He's nice. I like him." Leela concluded as Thea smiled, turning to Dominic who also smiled.
It had been a month since Sofia was given a guide dog, and they were both astounded by the confidence which having the dog gave Sofia. It had been a challenging few months trying to adapt to the new changes which came with Sofia's disability. Their house had been completely rearranged to support her. They had learned a whole new way to read and write for Sofia to be able to understand. She had started a new school which was better equipped to handle her loss of sight. There had been many ups and certainly downs, but the biggest improvement in Sofia had come ever since she had gotten Chance. He had become an extension of her, allowing her to get around confidently again. It was wonderful to see and they were so proud of the resilience their daughter had.
"So how does it feel? No more work?" Theo said, sitting in the living room with AJ and Dean.
"Hasn't really sunk in yet." Dean admitted, "I think we dragged it out for as long as we could, though."
"That'll be me." Theo nodded, "And Cassie probably."
"It's just strange knowing that you don't have anywhere to be anymore. You can just wake up and… do whatever the hell you want." AJ said, "It's like being sixteen again."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Theo chuckled as AJ just smiled.
"Hey, you guys wanna come see the cake?" Cassie walked into the living room to get them, leading them into the kitchen where the rest of their family were, standing around the table where a cake which had 'happy retirement' on it sat.
"Oh, that's sweet." AJ smiled.
"Why are there candles on it?" Dean asked, confused as Renee chuckled, nudging him.
"So you can blow them out." Chrissy told him with attitude as he chuckled and nodded.
"Do we make a wish?" Punk asked, still holding baby Lena in his arms.
"Yeah, make a wish." Jude encouraged.
"April, you blow them out." Dean pushed AJ in the middle, "You worked harder than us. And probably made more money." He added as AJ chuckled.
"I don't know about working harder." AJ scoffed, "I did make more money." She confirmed as they all smiled.
"Go for it." Punk smiled to her.
"Alright." AJ smiled, closing her eyes and leaning forward.
"Wait I want to!" Sam exclaimed in the silence, budging her way through everyone and over to her grandma.
"Oh, ok." AJ chuckled, "We'll do it together then." She said.
"Ok." Sam nodded as they both closed their eyes and blew the candles out together.
"Can we eat it now?" Leela asked, holding onto the edge of the table and eyeing the cake up.
"Yeah, ok. Let's get this thing cut up." AJ nodded, "Thank you guys." She smiled to her family, specifically her daughters and nieces who she knew had arranged the whole thing and decorated their house to celebrate all three of them retiring finally.
"Mexico for a whole month? Why?" Thea asked, sitting outside in the yard at the table with her two sisters, all three of them enjoying some cake.
"For a vacation." Cassie shrugged.
"To see Theo's dad?" Jude asked, "I thought they didn't speak."
"They don't." Cassie nodded, "We wouldn't be visiting him. I just want to know the place my husband lived in and spent time in. He still has some friends there and I know he loves it. Plus we're well overdue a vacation." She said.
"Is this a vacation with the kids or just the two of you?" Thea asked.
"With the kids, obviously." Cassie said.
"Well then it's not a vacation." Thea scoffed, "Especially with a four-month-old. You'll be up at the crack of dawn every day. Chase will tire you out-"
"Theo will tire you out." Jude added.
"Hey, I'm fine with that." Cassie assured them as they chuckled.
"Everyone has met Chance now, huh?" Jude asked Thea.
"Yeah, everyone." Thea nodded, "The kids were great with him. They were gentle and kept their distance."
"It's great to see Sofia so confident with him." Cassie nodded, "She's amazing."
"She is." Jude agreed.
"I think so." Thea smiled, "We can't believe how much he's helped her already. We were kinda going into it thinking it might be a dead end. She's actually not that big of a dog lover but… I guess he's more than just a dog for her. She doesn't get as nervous going out anymore. Just the other day we were at the park together. All of us. And she was having a blast." Thea nodded.
"That's really great." Jude nodded, "She's come such a long way."
"Yeah it's amazing." Cassie nodded, "Will you be going to the trial?"
"I don't know. Probably not." Thea said, "It doesn't really matter how much time he's given… he won't understand what he's done to her. What he's put her through and how much he's changed her life." She shook her head, "So… there doesn't really feel like a point? No time will be enough for blinding my daughter." She shook her head as Cassie and Jude nodded in agreement.
"Well if you did want to go, we'd come with you if you needed us." Cassie nodded, "Just so you know."
"Thank you." Thea nodded to them.
"You really had my baby looking like a little lemon drizzle cake tonight, huh?" Theo said, watching as Cassie changed Lena into her sleep suit in her nursery.
"That was the aim." Cassie chuckled, "Socks stayed on for eight minutes I think. Maybe a new record." She nodded, lifting Lena from the changing table and putting her in her crib for the night.
"She was smiley tonight." Theo smiled, "She's like you, you know. Full of smiles after napping and eating."
"Two of my favourite activities." Cassie agreed, "I just love her to death." She said, stroking her cheek lovingly as Lena grabbed onto her finger, squeezing it and lifting her legs in the air, "You're so wriggly." She chuckled, "Can I have my finger back?" She said in a funny voice, tickling Lena's little tummy.
"So… your parents both asked me tonight when we're going to Mexico." Theo said as Cassie turned to him, "I wasn't aware we were going."
"We've been talking about it." Cassie nodded.
"Not much." Theo said.
"Well we haven't had a vacation in a while. And you love Mexico. It'd be nice to go without having the dread of seeing your dad." She shrugged, "I'd like our kids to know where their dad is from. I want that to be part of their life too." She said as he smiled, "Think about it…" She said, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Days at the beach. Days by the pool. The sun. Chase having the time of his life. All the dresses I could put on Lena." She squealed as he chuckled, "And when they're both asleep…" She smiled, looking up at him.
"Then what?" He asked.
"We'll have to go to find out." She shrugged innocently, unwrapping her arms from around his neck as he chuckled.
"Or you could give me a preview right now to help me make up my mind." Theo nodded, picking her up around the waist, carrying her out of the nursery as she chuckled.
He threw her down on the bed as she collapsed on her back, welcoming him on top of her as he kissed her passionately, running his hands up her t-shirt, squeezing her breast as she moaned into his mouth.
"Do I tell you enough…" She gasped against his ear, "How much I love you." She finished, staring into his eyes.
"Yeah." He nodded, "And you show it even more." He assured her.
"I can't believe there was a time in my life where I was convincing myself I didn't want you." She shook her head, "Why did I hate myself?" She wondered as he chuckled, "It's not like you were a shitty person. You're literally a dream. You're like a male fictional character written by a woman… and that woman is me, cause you're literally everything I want."
"How much have you had to drink tonight?" Theo chuckled.
"Just a few." She smiled sweetly.
"Ok then." He grinned, kissing her softly before pulling back again, "Show me how much you want me then." He nodded as she smiled, fully accepting that challenge.
