Aftermath

"Hey, how you feeling?" Punk asked, walking into the bedroom where AJ was lying in bed, sitting down a sandwich and a drink for her.

"Tired." AJ nodded as he sat down on the edge of the bed, placing his hand on her thigh as she lay on her side, "I can't stop seeing her little face." AJ shook her head, "What if… what if it never goes away?" She asked.

It had been a few days since she had given birth and since they had said goodbye to Reylissa. Of course they were finding it difficult. They'd gotten a few hours with their daughter and that was enough just to know how much they absolutely loved her, regardless of the situation they were in. She was theirs and they would always love her. It was just very difficult having to pick themselves back up now, especially AJ who was tired and still feeling the effects of birth.

"It'll fade." Punk nodded, "And it'll… it'll become more of a choice." Punk assured her, "We knew this wouldn't be easy but… we did it for the right reasons." He reminded her, "We weren't ready for this, Ape. Neither of us." He said as she nodded, "And she's gonna be with a mom and dad who are ready. Who can love her and protect her."

"What if we could have done that?" AJ asked, "We could have loved her and protected her."

"We could have but… we don't know what we're doing. We're kids." Punk said, "I don't want you to feel any sort of guilt." He sighed.

"What if she grows up hating us?" AJ asked, "I mean… she most likely will." She shook her head, "I don't want her to hate me."

"When she's old enough, she'll understand why we did it. Why it was better of this way." He said, cupping her cheek softly as she sighed.

"She was so beautiful, wasn't she?" She nodded.

"Yeah." Punk smiled, "She was just like you." He nodded, "Beautiful."

"I'm never gonna stop thinking about her." AJ shook her head, "No matter where I am or… or what I'm doing."

"Me neither." Punk nodded, "But we can… we can carry on knowing she's alright. She's safe and she'll have a great family that can give her more than we can. All I really care about is her safety and happiness and… she can get that."

"Yeah." AJ nodded tiredly, "I don't want this to… to hurt our relationship, because I still love you so much." She sighed, taking his hand and squeezing it. She was scared that what they had been through would come in the way of their relationship, and she couldn't face losing him right now.

"Hey, baby I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." He promised, leaning over and kissing her softly as she kissed back.

"Thank you." Punk nodded to the nurse who had fixed Bob in his room. Luckily he had only suffered a minor heart attack and was conscious again. He was being kept in hospital for a few days however as they wanted to do some blood tests and keep an eye on him just for precaution.

"That's ok. Buzz if you need anything." The nurse smiled as Punk nodded, watching her leave the room as he turned to Bob.

"Don't you do that again." Punk warned him as Bob smiled, "You nearly gave me a heart attack. No pun intended." He shook his head as Bob just patted his arm.

"Can't keep me down for that long." Bob assured him, "Did you call the ambulance?" He asked him. He was a little confused as to how he got the hospital, it was a little blurry.

"No, I… I stepped outside the garage and I saw the ambulance already there. I think the little girl in the store at the time, she must have called it." He shook his head as Bob turned to him and nodded slowly, "Lucky she was there." He sighed.

"Yeah." Bob nodded, "Lucky she was." He nodded. Oh, how he hated having to play the silent guardian.

"I thought they put you on meds for your heart?" Punk asked him.

"They did, and I damn well take them." Bob said, "I don't know, I've been having pains recently-"

"And you didn't think to tell me?" Punk asked.

"Well you're a busy man. You work every hour of the day. I barely even see you anymore. Not like how I used to." Bob said.

"Well I'm not a kid anymore, Bob." Punk smiled a little.

"Well you are in my eyes." Bob said bluntly, "Damn well closest thing I had to kids. You and April." He shook his head, "And it got ruined just like everything else." He said as Punk sighed.

"C'mon, don't get yourself worked up." Punk nodded, "I still come around every Saturday for dinner." Punk said, "If you wanted me to come around more I would. I just thought that you'd eventually want rid of me after all the years you looked after me."

"Of course not." Bob scoffed, "I would never." He shook his head as Punk smiled.

"Well when we get you out of the hospital, I'll come over every night for dinner and see how quickly you get fed up of me." Punk nodded.

"Well I didn't mean… every night." Bob rolled his eyes as Punk smiled, "I'd enjoy the company." He said as Punk smiled.

"Hopefully you don't gotta spend too long in here." Punk nodded.

"Well they said they're gonna do some tests." Bob shrugged.

"Yeah, that'll just be standard protocol probably." Punk shrugged as Bob nodded, "I'll go to your place and get you some things if you like." He nodded.

Oh, no it's fine. They'll give me stuff here." Bob said.

"You sure?" Punk asked as he nodded.

"Yeah. Thank you for being here." He nodded, patting Punk's hand as Punk just nodded.

"I'm worried about her." Punk sighed, standing in the kitchen with Bob as he looked over at AJ lying on the couch reading a book.

"Hey, I wouldn't expect her to act any different." Bob nodded, "You think about it… I know you're going through the same thing she is, and it's difficult for you both, but… she gave birth to her, she carried her for nine months, that's a big deal and it's probably difficult for her to get used to." Bob said as Punk nodded. Bob was forever his voice of reason and his teacher.

"Yeah, I guess I didn't think about that." Punk sighed, "I think she thinks it's never gonna leave her mind. Which, I mean… I don't blame her. I just keep seeing her little face." Punk sighed to himself.

"That's normal, it'll fade with time." Bob said, "You've both done an incredibly brave and responsible thing here. You both realised that you weren't ready, you admitted it, you were brave enough to talk it through with each other and come to an agreement, and now that little girl is gonna have a steady home regardless." He said, "Neither of you should feel ashamed about any of this." He made clear as Punk nodded.

"I don't think it's about being ashamed just… the thought of it. We had this baby and now she's gone." He sighed, "It just doesn't even feel real."

"It'll get better with time." Bob nodded, "I hope it doesn't come between you both."

"No, we've promised ourselves that it's not. I mean, if anything we're closer. We had a baby. It's not something you go around doing with anyone." He said as Bob nodded.

"I'm gonna go get some pizza, I'll get enough for all of us." Bob said, "Go keep her company, keep her talking." He said as Punk nodded, heading on over to the couch whilst Bob left.

"Hey." Punk smiled, sitting down beside her as she smiled.

"Hey." She nodded. It had been a few weeks since they'd said goodbye to their daughter and although things weren't getting worse by any means, they just weren't getting better. AJ especially was finding it hard. She figured her body was still tired and it would just take time.

"Bob's gone for pizza." Punk said as she nodded, "How you been feeling?" He asked her.

"I'm ok." AJ smiled softly, "How are you?" She asked him, closing her book over.

"Me?" Punk shook his head, "I'm fine." He nodded.

"Well everyone has been fussing about me but… she's your daughter too." AJ nodded, "I know you're feeling exactly what I am." She said, "I don't expect you to hide it." She said as Punk nodded.

"It's not the best time, of course." Punk nodded, "But I know we'll get through it." He said, "Your college application got sent off today, that's exciting." He said as she smiled. She loved him for his support and how he knew exactly what to say and help her. She couldn't imagine ever loving someone the way she loved him. Even after the dumb incident he pulled, she understood his reasoning.

"I probably won't get accepted." AJ shrugged.

"Hey, don't do that. You got great qualifications." Punk shook his head, "And your application was great." He said, "You're gonna get in." He nodded as she smiled.

"I wish in believed in me as much as you believe in me." She nodded.

"Well you should." Punk nodded as she climbed over and hugged into him.

"Do you think in a few months time we can… go back to being teenagers again?" AJ asked him, "And… somehow carry on with our lives?"

"I think it's possible, yeah." Punk nodded, "It's not gonna feel like this forever." He promised, kissing her head softly as she sighed. He would always be her home, her protector, her love. No matter what.

"I love you." AJ nodded, looking up at him as he smiled, brushing her hair away from her face.

"I love you." Punk nodded, kissing her softly. She felt so lucky to have him throughout all of this. The good and the bad. He was completely irreplaceable to her, and nothing about meeting him and falling for him would ever be a regret. Having their baby would never be a regret.

"Hey." Rey whispered as she slid into the hospital room as Bob looked up, "I had to sneak my way in here." She told him as Bob chuckled.

"You have a date tonight." Bob said.

"Oh, I cancelled." Rey shook her head, "I wanted to make sure you're ok."

"Oh, I'm fine. You should have gone on your date." Bob shook his head as Rey sat down by his bed.

"No, I just wanted laid if we're being honest." Rey admitted, "But how are you? What did the doctor say?" She asked him.

"Minor heart attack." Bob nodded.

"Oh, Bob." Rey frowned.

"I'm lucky you were there." Bob said.

"You were talking to me one minute and the next you just collapsed. Gosh, I was so scared." Rey sighed.

"Oh, I'm ok now. They're keeping me in to do some blood tests and some other stuff but… I think I'm gonna be alright." Bob assured her.

"Well good, I'm glad." Rey smiled, "You'll never believe what happened… I was about to get in the ambulance with you and this guy… the guy from the garage across the road, he comes at me all aggressive telling me to go back to school or something. He wouldn't let me on." Rey shook her head, "Dick." She scoffed.

"And a good job too, you had work to go to." Bob nodded.

"Bob." Rey rolled her eyes, "Do you know him?" She wondered.

"Just… in passing." Bob said briefly as Rey nodded, "He's not that bad, you know."

"No, he seems like a straight up asshole." Rey nodded as Bob couldn't help smile, "Hey I can take some time off work if you need my help with anything."

"Don't be ridiculous. You're fine." Bob waved his hand, "But you could… go to my place and pack me a bag with some clothes in it."

"Yeah?" Rey nodded, "Sure, of course."

"And can you ask the lady at reception to call this number for me." Bob said, handing her the number on a ripped up piece of paper, "Tell her to explain what's happened to me to the woman who answers."

"Uh… sure, who-who is it?" Rey asked curiously.

"Oh just… an old friend." Bob smiled.

"Ok, let me write all of this on my hand or I'll forget." Rey shook her head, searching for her pen in her purse as Bob just smiled watching her.