Breaking Barriers

"Phil, what are you doing?" AJ grabbed him as he walked out of the apartment building, "Huh? You gonna walk down the highway and go miraculously find where I live?" AJ questioned. She knew when he got mad, there was no talking him out of anything, but she had to try her best in this case.

"He put his hands on you, April. I'm not gonna sit there and do nothing." Punk made clear.

"Hey, this is my mess to sort out, ok? I don't need you fighting my battles. As much as I appreciate the concern, please… please just don't get involved." AJ nodded, placing her hands on his arms, "It was my fault, I provoked him-"

"No, nothing you can say justifies being hit. So don't even try to explain this situation." Punk made clear, "He shouldn't have lifted his hands to you, bottom line."

"Ok, he shouldn't have." AJ agreed, "But please, this isn't the solution to this." AJ nodded, trying to calm him down, "I'm getting out of it, ok? That's the most important thing. He… He isn't the man I thought he was but that's ok now because I'm getting out." She said, "Me and Amelia are gonna find a place here and… and maybe we can start something new." She nodded to him as he looked at her, "Yeah?"

"You know I'd love nothing more." Punk nodded, "But I can't just ignore the fact he hit you, April. Who the hell does he think he is?" He shook his head.

"It doesn't matter. I don't have to see him anymore. It'll be just to drop off and pick up Amelia." AJ nodded.

"Do you really trust him with her?" Punk questioned.

"Y-Yeah." AJ nodded.

"You're not convincing me." Punk said.

"She is his daughter. He wouldn't put her in any danger or hurt her in any way. I know that much." AJ said.

"I'm sure there was a time you thought he wouldn't hurt you in any way." Punk made a point as AJ looked at him, "I'm just trying to look out for you here. Please don't punish me for that." He said.

"I'm not. I love that you care because it's… it's not something I'm used to, having someone who has my back, who has Amelia's back. I can't thank you enough… but this is still my ex-husband and this is my situation to handle." She nodded, "So let me handle it." She said as Punk nodded.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt." Punk said as AJ nodded.

"I know you don't." AJ said, taking his hand in hers, "But maybe this was a blessing in disguise, getting out of my marriage and somehow meeting you again." She nodded, "Last night I… I went to sleep and I was happy, I felt like I was important to someone again-"

"You've always been important to me. You will always be." Punk nodded.

"I know that." AJ smiled, "So maybe… we can try again at this. I'd say we're a little smarter than we were back then, hopefully." She nodded, "Maybe we can give it a go properly."

"I'd like that." Punk nodded, "But I'm not gonna back off from Tom. If he thinks this is how he can treat you… no way, AJ. I'll go talk to him and teach him some respect-"

"Well that's the difference between him and you. That's why he's lost me, ok?" AJ nodded, "Let's just go back inside. We have our freakin' daughter who is actually… letting us into her life, she's giving us that chance and… to me, that's more important right now than my ex-husband." AJ nodded.

"Yeah, I agree." Punk said, "I just don't want you to be hurt." He sighed, cupping her cheek as she placed her hand over his.

"I'm fine." AJ nodded, "Let's go back inside." She said as he nodded, leaning down and kissing her sweetly as she kissed back. Feeling like she had him by her side again was the best. Feeling that protection from him again. Knowing he'd do anything for her. It was things that were really missing from her marriage. And she was only just realising that now.

"Rey was really excited to meet Amelia." Punk nodded, walking back into the apartment block and up the stairs to the apartment.

"I hope they get along." AJ admitted honestly.

"Well one is six and the other is nineteen. I don't think they'll be fighting about much." Punk chuckled a little as AJ smiled, walking into the apartment and looking down into the kitchen where she saw Rey sitting with Amelia. It warmed her heart so much to see her two daughters together. Both so different but so special to her. She never thought she'd see this sight. She never thought she'd meet Rey and she couldn't help but feel like it was a blessing to finally meet her and to be given this chance to actually be her mom. She was very grateful for it.

She walked down the corridor and into the kitchen, smiling as she watched Rey sitting with Amelia drawing in some books.

"Mommy, look what Rey gave me. My sister." Amelia explained, showing her mother all the books as AJ smiled to herself.

"Woah, those are great." AJ smiled, looking on, "Did you say thank you?" She asked.

"She did." Rey smiled, "Is everything ok?" She asked her mother, noticing she was a little frantic and disorientated.

"Yeah, everything is fine." AJ smiled. Everything was fine now that she saw her daughters together. It was a sight she really thought could never be possible, to have them both in her life, to also have the promise of something new with Phil. It was exactly what she needed to get through the divorce.

"I'll uh… I'll get going." Rey nodded.

"No, stay." AJ said immediately, "Stay for dinner. We'll order pizza." She nodded.

"Yes!" Amelia cheered, "I love pizza." She smiled excitedly as Rey looked over at AJ.

"Are you sure?" Rey asked. She wouldn't lie, she was really enjoying spending time with her sister. She was quite the character and she was soaking up every moment with her.

"Of course." AJ nodded, "I'd love for you to stay." She said as Rey smiled and nodded.

"Me too." Amelia nodded.

"Me three." Punk agreed as Rey smiled. She really was starting to like the feeling of being wanted and she already felt love from her parents. Even though they were still going slow and steady, she felt like they were really there for her and she was glad she made the decision to give them a chance.

Rey stayed for dinner with what she felt comfortable with calling her family. The main entertainment was Amelia of course, but it felt nice to continue to get to know her parents. She was starting to get an idea of who they really were, and she was hoping she was putting down some of her guard to let them into who she was also.

"You went back to work today?" Rey asked AJ who nodded whilst Punk cleared the plates away.

"Yeah, I did. I'm working on this new line that's launching soon. You wanna see?" AJ asked.

"Yeah, sure." Rey nodded as AJ reached over into her purse and took out some of the plans for the new line she was working on, opening it up and showing Rey, "Oh, woah." She smiled, "That's really pretty." She said, shuffling her chair a little closer to look on as Punk looked over his shoulder and smiled.

"So this is this month's collection here." AJ explained, "And then this is next month." She flicked the page as Rey looked on.

"Oh, I like that one." Rey pointed as she looked at all the clothes.

"I'll bring you some stuff if you like." AJ nodded.

"Oh, no… I wouldn't expect you to-"

"No, it's fine. I get to take a handful of stuff home with me sometimes anyway." AJ said, "Take a look through it and circle some stuff you like." She nodded, giving her a pen as Rey smiled.

"Let me see." Amelia shuffled over, "Our mommy makes pretty clothes, look." Amelia pointed as Rey smiled and nodded.

"You're right." Rey nodded, "You wanna help me pick some stuff? There's so much to choose from." She said.

"I'll help." Amelia nodded as AJ smiled to herself as she watched them. It was an unbelievable sight that she wasn't sure she'd ever get used to. She could sense Rey's wall was going down, certainly since they first saw her. She was really letting them in and it was all she and Punk could ask for.

"These hoodies look so comfy." Rey nodded as she flicked to the casual clothing section, which was obviously something she was interested in.

"Yeah and the yoga pants are amazing." AJ nodded, "Which I never wear to do actual yoga." She said as Rey smiled.

"Does anyone?" Rey chuckled as AJ smiled.

Punk smiled as he watched AJ talk to Rey, Amelia shuffling her way into the conversation too, and it made him incredibly happy but also a little sad. He would never forget the fact he had another daughter out there, one who he hadn't been given the chance to be there for. He felt like it was something he had to hide because even though he knew it wasn't his fault, he felt like he looked like the bad guy in it. He loved Lily. The second he held her, just like Rey, it was instant love and connection, and his time with her got cut so short because of the issues he had with Chrissy. He wanted to do his best by her also.

"Is there like a men's section in all of this? I could do with a few new t-shirts." Punk nodded as AJ smiled and shook her head. He could see how happy she was to be sitting with her two daughters, and that made him instantly happy. He really didn't want to mess up with this chance he was given.

"Yeah, every time I see you, you wear the same stuff." Rey nodded to him as Punk gasped.

"Ouch." Punk laughed a little as Rey shrugged.

"She's got a point." AJ agreed.

"Oh, yeah. Let's all gang up on me." Punk nodded, "I see how it is." He said.

"No, don't gang up on him." Amelia frowned as Punk smiled.

"Thank you, Amelia." Punk said as the six year old smiled to him sweetly just as there was a knock at the door, "I'll get it." He nodded, walking out of the kitchen and down the hall to the front door, opening it up where he saw a guy standing who he didn't know.

"Hey." Punk shook his head, "Can I help you?"

"Is Rey here?" Josh asked him.

"Why'd you wanna see Rey?" Punk raised a brow. He'd already met one of Rey's boy connections the other night when Zac stormed into the diner. He was hoping this wasn't another one he had to choke around the neck.

"It's private, I guess." Josh shrugged, "Is she here?"

"Mhm." Punk nodded suspiciously, "I'm her dad, by the way." He added.

"I know." Josh nodded.

"What's your name?" Punk asked him.

"Josh." Josh said, "Her friend, Joanne. She told me where you lived, said I might find her here."

"I'll go get her." Punk said, keeping his eyes fixed on him before walking off, "Rey." Punk walked back into the kitchen, "There's a Josh at the door for you. You want me to tell him to fuck off?"

"Phil." AJ hissed as she looked on at Amelia as Punk covered her ears, "You already said it." AJ scoffed as Punk smiled innocently whilst Amelia pushed his hands away.

"No." Rey groaned, "No, I'll talk to him." She stood up, walking on out of the kitchen as AJ looked over at Punk.

"Another boyfriend?" AJ whispered as Punk just shook his head and shrugged.

Rey made her way down the apartment and to the door where Josh was standing, stepping outside with him and closing the door over.

"Hey." Rey nodded.

"Hey." Josh replied. They hadn't spoken since the fight they had and Rey had really been reflecting on what she really wanted at the moment, more so what she needed, "I uh… I wanted to apologise." He said, "For snapping the way I did the other night."

"Ok." Rey said.

"I just… I care about you and that's why I got so upset. I don't want you to view me as how my parents acted because that's not me." Josh nodded.

"I know that." Rey said, "I know you care." She sighed, "Which is… why this is a little harder." She nodded, "I'm not in a place right now where I feel it's right to have a boyfriend." She admitted, "I'm putting me first right now and I got a lot going on. It'd be unfair to you if I told you all these things and never had time to see you. You don't deserve that." She nodded, "But I'm getting to know my parents and I'm actually really liking it and I… I also have a little sister that I want to know and spend time with. I want to maybe apply for college and… and just put myself first." She said, "I know it sounds incredibly selfish but-"

"No, of course it doesn't." Josh nodded, "I understand." He assured her as she smiled, "You're amazing, I hope you know that." He said as Rey smiled.

"You are too." Rey smiled, "You're the first guy who hasn't just been interested in one thing. You actually wanted to know me and… that means a lot to me." She nodded, "So thank you." She said as he smiled. He understood what she was saying completely. There was no bad blood.

"I hope everything goes well with your parents and… go for college. You'll be great." He nodded as she smiled, "I'll see you around." He said as she nodded, watching as he left down the stairs in the landing as she sighed.

It was bitter sweet. She really liked him but it wasn't fair to be stringing him along whilst having so much going on in her life. She was putting herself first at the minute.