Old Friend

"I'm not gonna ask what happened." Punk said, walking into the house with AJ, holding James in his arms as the girls headed on ahead. AJ had spent a relatively good time in the foster home before coming back to the car with blood under her finger nails and a few scratches on her face.

"I took care of it." AJ looked up at him as he nodded. Normally he'd always be her voice of reason, but anyone who put their hands on any of his children deserved a terrible fate. He had no remorse for them.

"I don't want to go back there." Vivian made clear as AJ nodded.

"You're not, trust me." AJ nodded, walking over to the girls, "Are you both ok?" She asked them, noticing Raimy's bruise on her cheek a little clearer and sighing, "I'm so sorry, baby." AJ cupped her cheek softly as Raimy shrugged. Even though they were both little, she could see so much strength in them. So much resilience and perseverance.

"They said that's the place kids go when their mommy's and daddy's don't want them." Vivian folded her arms.

"I told you they would come back." Raimy told her sister, "I told both of them." She said.

"Mommy and daddy made a mistake." AJ nodded, "But you're never going back there, ok?" AJ nodded slowly, "Never." She made clear as Punk looked over at them. To think they'd failed their children was such an awful feeling. To see the shiny bruise on Raimy's cheek, and to feel the way James was holding onto him for dear life, it made his heart break in two. He knew the situation was out of their control at the time but he really felt like they had failed their children.

'Let's get you guys to bed, huh?" Punk nodded, "I'll take them up, you… get yourself together." Punk nodded to AJ who was looking a little on the rough side.

"Yeah." AJ nodded, "Ok." She said, "Goodnight, sweet girls. I love you." AJ nodded, pulling them both in for a hug, tightly squeezing them with so much relief before standing up straight and turning to James who was squished into Punk's neck, "Hi, baby." AJ smiled, cupping his cheek softly, "I love you." She whispered, leaning in and kissing his cheek as James smiled tiredly. No matter where he was, his mother and father's arms were always home.

AJ watched as Punk took them up to bed, placing her hand on her chest, so thankful they were home and they were all ok. She then caught side of the dried in blood on her hands and under her nails and quickly rushed into the kitchen to clean up.

Punk took the kids up to bed. James went down right away and fell straight asleep. By the time he got into Vivian's room she was crashed out on top of the covers. He pulled them over her and tucked Elmo in beside her. He then moved onto Raimy's room where she was still awake and just getting into bed.

"Hey." Punk smiled, walking into her room and helping her into bed.

"We don't have to go back there, do we?" Raimy made sure.

"No, I promise." Punk nodded, crouching down by her bed as he watched her turn onto her side to face him, "I'm so sorry. Me and mommy should have gotten there sooner." He said. He was well aware that Raimy knew what was going on. She knew that they were never supposed to leave. It was easier to keep things light hearted with James and Vivian, but Raimy was older and she was a bright kid.

"There's a lot of kids there who… who were hurt." Raimy frowned, "I wish we could have taken them with us." She nodded as Punk brushed her hair from her face.

"You're just like your mom." Punk nodded, "Those kids will get homes. They'll get nice parents." He said, stroking her cheek softly.

"It's sad that they don't have any." Raimy said, "Like you and mommy."

"Yeah but… me and mommy have you guys." Punk smiled, "And that's the best thing in the world." He nodded, "That bruise will be gone before you know it."

"Did mommy hurt Polly?" Raimy questioned as Punk looked at her.

"That woman shouldn't have hit you, Raimy. Or Vivian." Punk made sure she knew.

"But I pushed her first." Raimy said, "Because she grabbed Vivian. And you told me to look after Vivian and James-"

"It doesn't matter what happened, that woman should never have hit you, ok? No one should ever hit you. There's no reason. Don't you ever, ever think you deserve something like that." Punk made clear as Raimy just nodded, "You were really brave. Braver than me." He said as Raimy smiled, "You guys aren't going back there ever again, don't worry." He nodded, "You get some sleep, ok?" He said as she nodded, "I love you." He said, reaching over and kissing her on the head before leaving the room.

Knowing all three of them were safe and back in their care again was such a relief.

He headed back downstairs and into the kitchen where AJ was sat at the kitchen table. He wasn't sure what she had done to the woman who hit their daughter, but he knew that it definitely wouldn't have been pretty.

"Is she dead?" Punk asked. He figured he'd be blunt.

AJ looked up at him, coming out of her day-dream and shaking her head, "No." AJ shook her head, "No, I let her live." AJ said with disgust, "But only if she gave me somethig in return." She said.

"What was that?" Punk asked her.

"To never, ever have social services at this house ever again. She agreed." AJ nodded, "So we don't have to worry about anyone coming back here. The kids aren't going anywhere." She said, "And I told her if she phones the police I will find her and I'll kill her. I think she got the idea." She said as Punk nodded, "But we do have a slight problem." She looked up at him.

"What?" Punk asked.

"It was your mother who filed the report on us. Your mother who paid that social services worker to come inspect our house, and your mother who wanted to take Raimy." AJ said.

"What?" Punk shook his head, "How-How do you know?"

"Polly told me. Your mom was paying her to keep the kids in the home. And she was coming to collect Raimy at some point." AJ said, "Here I was thinking she and your sister were victims." AJ said, "Turns out they might just be the people in charge." AJ looked up at him.

"In charge of what exactly?" Punk asked as AJ sat back on her chair.

"In charge of selling girls." AJ said, "And she wanted Raimy so… you know that means I have to do something about this?" AJ questioned.

"Wait… slow down." Punk placed his hands on his head, "My mom and my sister are in this house, right?" He said as AJ nodded, "And you think they're… they're the ones who… who are making these girls go out and sell themselves, so they can get money?" Punk questioned.

"Bingo." AJ nodded, "And they're using the chatting websites to get girls to come meet them. Which explains why Michelle was in the club on her own with her eyes fixed on the door. Because that's her job. To go out and meet the girls, bring them back to the house and no doubt drug them." AJ said as Punk took a deep breath, leaning against the fridge and rolling his head back. Things always seemed to go from bad to worse in situations like these.

"I thought you said there was a guy in the house?" Punk questioned, "When Lily was looking up on it-"

"There was but… could just be a customer." AJ said as Punk closed his eyes, "It's her. She's doing this. Michelle went back to her and told her about me at the club. She know who you are-"

"How does she know who I am? She might not." Punk said, "They might just think it's you."

"Phil, she knows who you are." AJ said, "And the stunt with the social services and the kids was to distract us and keep us away from snooping into her business." She said, "But I bet she thinks I'm just some house wife who would bow down to that sort of thing." AJ shook her head.

"I can't believe this." Punk shook his head, "What the hell are we gonna do?"

"We're gonna go see them, I think." AJ nodded, "And I'm not looking at this woman as your mom anymore. I see this woman as someone who wanted to put my daughter in danger. Who put our kids in danger." AJ said, "And I'll deal with her as I see her." AJ said as Punk gulped and nodded. She was right. This woman was no mother of his. She never was. But even more so now.

"We still gotta be careful." Punk nodded as there was a knock at their door.

"I'll get it." AJ nodded, as if knowing who it would be, walking out of the kitchen whilst Punk rubbed his hands over his face.

AJ walked down the hall and opened up their front door, looking on at the woman standing just as she remembered her. Leather skirt with ripped tights and high boot heels. A crop top with a leather jacket over her. Cigarette between her two fingers and her hair half straight and half curly.

"I say." The woman laughed with a smile, "April Mendez living in a fancy ass house like this with a driveway?" She chuckled, "Where's the girls I used to steal tampons with?" She said as AJ smiled.

"She's still here." AJ smiled, walking over and hugging the woman who was about the same age as her but of course looked terribly older.

"You're a hugger now too?" The woman laughed, hugging AJ back.

"Come in." AJ pulled her into the house, "Thank you for coming, Tara." She nodded as Tara smiled.

"Anything for you." Tara smiled, "Smells like children in here." She nodded.

"Well I have three." AJ laughed, taking her jacket from her as Tara gasped.

"Three?" Tara exclaimed, "April, did someone brainwash you? You've changed." She noticed.

"I've not really." AJ nodded, "Change of scenery, sure. But… I haven't changed." AJ said.

"As long as you're still a crazy bitch, I don't mind." Tara said, still smoking her cigarette, walking down the hall with AJ and into the kitchen where Punk was still standing, watching as the woman followed AJ into the kitchen, "Sweet Jesus." Tara smirked as Punk looked across at her with confusion, "April, tell me this is your… friend or long lost brother." She said, eyeing Punk up as AJ rolled her eyes.

"My husband, Tara." AJ said.

"Well that's unfortunate. For me." She made clear.

"April, who-who is this?" Punk wondered with confusion.

"Phil, this is Tara. I was on the streets with her for a while in Russia." AJ said, "Tara this is Phil, my husband."

"Nice to… meet you." Punk nodded as Tara smiled.

"You better be treating this girl right. She's one of a kind." Tara warned him as Punk nodded. She was pretty terrifying and she was wondering why on earth she was here.

"Y-Yeah, of course." Punk nodded, "Not to be rude, but… what-what are you doing here?" Punk asked.

"I told you I was calling a friend for help." AJ nodded as Punk looked at her.

"I thought you meant from your office or something." Punk said truthfully as Tara chuckled.

"He's very welcoming." Tara nodded sarcastically.

"Tara can help us." AJ said, "I was on the streets with her for years. I trust her."

"She's a smart girl, this one." Tara nodded, "I'm glad she got some good in her life." She smiled to AJ who smiled back, "I'm here to help in any way I can." She smiled as Punk looked across at AJ who gave him a reassuring nod, "Now who is going to fill me in?"