Being Civil
"Ok, Dean… Viv normally goes to bed at 7. Raimy at 8." AJ nodded as Punk helped her put her coat on, "If anything is wrong call me or Phil, we'll pick up right away." She explained as Dean stood with a crate of beer and a bag of chips under his arm.
"I've babysat them before." Dean scoffed.
"And you fell asleep, if I remember correctly." Punk said as Dean just made a face.
"I was tired." Dean shrugged.
"How many is that? 4? 4 beers?" AJ questioned, taking the crate from him and looking at the writing on it, "This is a lot of units, Dean. Just have one." She said.
"I'll have all 4 actually." Dean grabbed the crate back, "And if I want more, I'll have more." He made clear as AJ just looked at him, "I cancelled a date with my lady friend tonight for this." He made clear.
"Good. You have too many of those lady friends." AJ said, buttoning up her coat, "They're in the kitchen decorating cookies we made earlier." AJ said, "We shouldn't be too long, right?" She turned to Punk.
"If it's up to me. We'll be an hour." Punk smiled as AJ smacked him and shook her head.
"Me and my friends will be fine." Dean nodded, looking through to the kitchen where he saw the girls sitting at the table decorating cookies, "You guys go and enjoy your night."
"Well thank you." AJ nodded as Dean just hmm'd and nodded, "If we say bye to them they won't let us leave." AJ said as Punk nodded.
"Yeah, let's go." Punk said, taking her hand and leaving the house with her as they closed the door behind them, "He'll be fine with them." Punk assured her.
"I know, I'd get like that with anyone. It's not just him." AJ assured him, holding his hand and walking down the path with him. Since it was a nice night, they decided they would walk as it wasn't that far.
"Technically we should be celebrating." Punk smiled, turning to her.
"Why is that?" AJ asked.
"You hit the 12 week mark today." Punk smiled as she nodded.
"I did." AJ smiled to herself. It was the biggest relief to hit the twelve week mark and have the baby healthy. It was a lot of weight lifted from her shoulders and she felt like she could really start getting excited.
"Steaks on me." Punk said as AJ laughed to herself.
"Steaks for everybody." AJ exclaimed as Punk nodded, "Are you going to let me find out what it is?" She asked. She'd definitely developed a glow about her which Punk noticed and it was great to see her so happy.
"I just think it's nice when it's a surprise." Punk shrugged.
"Yeah, you're probably right." AJ agreed, "Are you nervous to meet this guy?" AJ asked him.
"No, I just… I don't want it to be awkward, especially not for Coleen." Punk said.
"I know but I think when she has us there, she might feel a little better and she might talk more." AJ nodded, "Well, that's what I've gathered. I bet he's a nice guy. He's just trying to take in all the information and there's nothing wrong with that." AJ shook her head.
"I know." Punk said.
"I mean what did you first think when you found out about my past, my childhood?" She asked.
"I thought wow… this girl is strong." Punk nodded as AJ smiled to herself, "Seriously, that's what I thought."
"And then you thought, she's gonna have my babies." AJ nodded.
"Exactly that." Punk smiled as AJ kissed his arm through his jacket and curled into him as they walked along the path for their double date.
Punk and AJ arrived at the steakhouse and was introduced to Patrick who appeared to be a pleasant and polite young guy, from AJ and Punk's judgement of course.
They ordered food and began talking casually. Punk was surprised at how well the conversation flowed and how easy Patrick was to get along with.
"I can't eat that." AJ whispered to Punk who she was sat beside whilst Coleen and Patrick sat opposite.
"Why?" Punk whispered back quietly.
"Tastes funny." She told him, "You taste it." She said as Punk extended his fork over and took a bite.
"Tastes fine." He shook his head as she made a face as though she was about to throw up, "Are you gonna be sick?" He asked her worriedly.
"Maybe." AJ said worriedly, "Excuse me." She excused herself, rushing to find the bathroom as Coleen shook her head.
"Is she alright?" Coleen asked.
"Uh… go stick your head in and see if she's ok." Punk said as Coleen nodded, leaving the table to go check on AJ.
"I hope it's not the food here." Patrick said as Punk shook his head. He knew she'd no doubt gone off something because she was pregnant, but they hadn't told anyone yet.
"I tried a bit, it was fine." Punk shook his head as Patrick nodded.
"So how long have you been together?" Patrick asked him.
"We've been together for eight years. Married for seven." Punk nodded.
"Oh, so you guys got married pretty quickly?" Patrick noticed.
"Yeah, we did. We knew we wanted it so… it seemed to work out fine." He smiled as he nodded.
"Yeah, you guys are great. Coleen talks about you guys all the time. Good things." He made clear as Punk smiled.
"Yeah, well she's a sweetheart." Punk nodded, "And you're lucky to have her, I hope you know that." He said as Patrick nodded.
"Yeah, and hey I-I know you probably know about me walking out on her after she told me… you know." He said as Punk nodded, "I just… I didn't know what to say and I didn't want to say the wrong things, you know?" He said.
"It's understandable." Punk nodded, understanding where the guy was coming from.
"It's just… it's not something I've ever dealt with before and I don't want to make it an issue or make it seem like I'm having to adapt to it because that's not fair." Patrick said, "I mean, they're both incredibly strong people to go through that and turn their lives around."
"They are." Punk agreed, "You came back and you did the say the right things so… that's all that will matter to Coleen. Just… treat her right cause she deserves it." He nodded.
"I will." Patrick nodded, "God, I feel like I'm talking to her dad." He chuckled a little as Punk smiled, "Are you close with her?" He asked as Punk nodded slowly.
"Uh… yeah." Punk nodded, "Like a little sister." He said. Of course the strange period that he and Coleen had together always messed with him a little more than it should.
Meanwhile Coleen had gone into the toilets, waiting outside the stall AJ was in as she heard her throwing up, "Did you eat something earlier?" Coleen asked, putting more lipstick on as she looked in the mirror.
"No." AJ groaned, flushing the toilet and wiping her mouth. She definitely didn't miss this part of pregnancy.
She walked out of the bathroom stall and over to the sink as Coleen turned to her.
"Is it food poisoning? What did you order? The steak?" Coleen questioned.
"I'm pregnant." AJ said casually as Coleen turned to her and raised her eyebrows, "That would explain it." AJ smiled to her.
"Really? You know for sure?" Coleen asked her.
"Yeah, I'm going on 13 weeks." AJ nodded with a smile. It was nice to finally feel confident to tell people, "And everything looks good." She smiled.
"Oh my God." Coleen gasped, "Another little baba." She cooed excitedly as AJ smiled, "Were you trying?" She asked her as AJ nodded.
"Yeah, we were." AJ nodded, "I just… Having my own family… it means so much and to able to give my kids a good life, an amazing life compared to ours… there's nothing like it." She said as Coleen smiled.
"I'm so happy for you." Coleen placed her hand on her shoulder as AJ smiled.
"Thank you." AJ nodded, "We just weren't telling anyone because of what happened last time."
"Of course." Coleen said, "You tell people in your own time." She nodded, "Tonight isn't going too bad, is it?" She wondered nervously.
"No, it's been great actually." AJ nodded, "He's really nice." She admitted.
"Right? He's really quiet so I'm glad he's actually talking to you and Phil." Coleen said.
"Relax." AJ smiled, "It's going well and he's really nice. All is good." She nodded as Coleen smiled and gave her a warm cuddle.
"Why do you need a night light on?" Dean asked, tucking Raimy into bed, having already put Vivian to bed.
"Because I do." Raimy answered.
"That's not really an answer." Dean said.
"I just like it." Raimy shrugged tiredly.
"I see." Dean hummed, "Well, you get some sleep, ok?" He nodded, "Don't tell your mom and dad that I let you eat five of those cookies, right?" He said as she smiled and nodded, "Our secret?"
"Yeah." Raimy smiled, "Goodnight." She smiled as Dean kissed her cheek.
"Goodnight." Dean smiled, walking out of the bedroom and heading back downstairs just as there was a knock at the door. He groaned to himself but figured he best answer it.
He walked over to the door and opened up to see Frankie standing. Dean immediately groaned and looked across at him.
"Uh… I didn't know you were here." Frankie admitted.
"Well here I am." Dean nodded, "Phil and April are out. I'm babysitting." He explained, "Everything ok?" He supposed it was polite to ask.
"Uh yeah, fine." Frankie nodded, "It was just to update them on what's going on. Turns out AJ might not need to testify. But I can come by tomorrow and talk to them." Frankie nodded.
"You know you got some nerve thinking you and Phil are all best friends again." Dean said. Of course he couldn't bite his tongue, especially not after a few beers.
"Excuse me?" Frankie shook his head.
"You think this is you back in the good books now because you're helping out." Dean said as Frankie laughed a little.
"I'm pretty sure it's Phil who should be trying to get back in my good books." Frankie corrected him.
"Oh, please." Dean scoffed.
"You know what he did, of course someone like you would justify that but… I didn't do anything wrong. He did." Frankie said, "And we're both trying to be the bigger person about it, so what exactly is your problem? Worried that I'm gonna take your spot as best friend again?" He questioned.
"I'm not worried about anything. I just think whenever you're around, bad things tend to happen. You and Phil are complete opposites. And I don't think he should have ever forgave you after what happened." He said.
"It's none of your business." Frankie said, "Me and Phil are fine. We're over everything. He wasn't a saint either. I don't think if I told his wife what he did, she'd be all that confident in him anymore." He said.
"I'm saying this from experience. Don't get April mad." Dean advised, "It never ends pretty."
"Just stay out of it, Dean. We've moved on from it. I'm here for business. We can be civil for the sake of that." Frankie said.
"Yeah, whatever." Dean said, "I'll tell them you called by." He said as Frankie just nodded and left the door as Dean slammed it shut behind him.
A/N: Merry Crimmus for anyone celebrating tomorrow. No chapters tomorrow but will be back soon with more drama! Enjoy the holiday and stay safe!